Category: India

Orry has been asked to join probe after his name emerged during interrogation of a deported trafficker linked to a drug syndicate associated with Dawood.

Popular social media personality Orhan Awatramani, better known as Orry, is in soup over an investigation into an alleged drug syndicate linked with the Dawood Ibrahim gang, with the Anti-Narcotics Cell (ANC) of the Mumbai Police having summoned him to join the probe.

Orry’s name emerged in the probe after the interrogation of a drug trafficker – Mohammad Salim Mohammad Suhail Shaikh – recently deported from the United Arab Emirates (UAE), who told officials about rave parties whose guests included several Bollywood A-listers, other film celebrities and politicians.

As reported by HT earlier, the parties, in Mumbai and Dubai, were organised by Mohammad Salim Mohammad Suhail Shaikh, a close aide of fugitive drug kingpin Salim Dola, who is a key member of the Dawood Ibrahim gang.

‘Son of Dawood’s sister, Orry were at lavish parties’

The the ANC told a metropolitan magistrate court in Maharashtra’s Mumbai on November 13 that Shaikh had claimed to have arranged lavish parties for celebrities in Dubai and Mumbai.

Attendees of these parties included the son of Dawood’s deceased sister Haseena Parkar, Orry, actors Nora Fatehi, Shraddha Kapoor and her brother Siddharth Kapoor, film producers Abbas-Mustan, rapper Loka, and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Zeeshan Siddique, Shaikh told police during interrogation, according to ANC’s remand application before the court.

The crime branch is yet to verify the claims made by Shaikh as their investigation is at a preliminary stage, an earlier HT report quoted an ANC officer as saying.

“We will question Orry about the claims made by Shaikh… We will decide whether to question other celebrities and political leaders mentioned by Shaikh after we question Orry,” the officer told HT.

Orry representative appeared before the ANC on Thursday and told police that he was out of the city and would be able to join the probe after November 25, a police officer familiar with the matter said.

The officer told HT a date will be decided and conveyed to him.

The case dates back to August 2022, when the crime branch and the Ghatkopar ANC arrested Mohammad Shahrukh Mohammad Shafi Shaikh – Worli resident – from Nagpada, and recovered mephedrone (MD) worth ₹1.19 lakh from him.

Several other alleged drug peddlers were arrested subsequently, and in a big breakthrough in March 2024, a mephedrone-manufacturing facility in a farm in Sangli district was busted. The facility

Authorities in the crime branch said the facility was reportedly run by wanted drug trafficker and Dawood aide Salim Dola along with his son, Tahe, who was deported from the UAE and taken into custody by Mumbai Police in June this year. His relative Mustaffa Mohammad Khubbawala was deported the following month.

Source : https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/son-of-dawood-sister-orry-others-attended-lavish-parties-in-dubai-mumbai-claims-drug-trafficker-101763686992133.html

FSSAI stated that these products are being sold in retail stores and on e-commerce platforms, even though earlier orders had already withdrawn permission to use the term “ORS” for such drinks.

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) issued an order on Wednesday directing the immediate removal of fruit-based beverages, ready-to-serve drinks, energy drinks, electrolyte drinks and similar products that use the term “ORS” in their brand names or product names.

FSSAI stated that these products are being sold in retail stores and on e-commerce platforms, even though earlier orders had already withdrawn permission to use the term “ORS” for such drinks.

FSSAI referred to its previous orders from October 14 and the clarification issued on October 15, which said that no food product, whether fruit-based, non-carbonated or ready-to-drink, can use the term “ORS” in the trademarked name or in any form, including as a prefix or suffix. Using the term in this way violates the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. Despite these directions, FSSAI noted that many such products continue to be sold under names that include “ORS”.

To stop this, FSSAI has instructed officers to carry out immediate inspections on e-commerce platforms and retail outlets to identify food products that violate the orders by using the term “ORS”. If found, these products must be removed from sale, and regulatory action must be taken against the companies involved. Officers must also send a detailed action taken report to FSSAI, listing inspections, violations, and the status of product removal.

The authority instructed all officers to make sure there is no interference in the storage, distribution or sale of WHO-recommended ORS drug products.

Enforcement activities must only target non-compliant food products that are falsely using the term “ORS”.

Earlier on October 31, the Delhi High Court said it would not interfere with the decision of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) prohibiting the use of the term “ORS” on beverages, observing that counterfeit or misleading ORS-labelled products pose a serious risk to public health.

The Bench noted that public health must take precedence over commercial considerations and clarified that a detailed judgment will follow.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/food-regulator-orders-removal-of-any-products-misleadingly-labelled-ors-9673136

The class 10 student jumped in front of a metro train at the Rajendra Place station on Wednesday afternoon. He was rushed to the nearby BLK Hospital, where he was declared dead.

Four staff members of St Columba’s School — including the headmistress — have been placed under suspension following the registration of an FIR that names them in connection with the alleged suicide of a Class 10 student who had accused them of subjecting him to mental harassment, news agency PTI reported.

As per the suspension order, the headmistress for Classes IV–X, the coordinator overseeing Classes 9 and 10, along with two teachers, have been temporarily relieved of their duties while authorities look into the matter. The action is being described as provisional, pending the outcome of ongoing inquiries.

The 16-year-old boy studying in the school, which located in central Delhi, died by suicide after he jumped in front of a metro after alleging that his teachers subjected him to prolonged mental harassment. His family demanded stringent action against those responsible and accused the school administration of failing to take action despite raising concerns over the victim’s mental health several times.

According to information, the class 10 student jumped in front of a metro train at the Rajendra Place station on Wednesday afternoon. He was rushed to the nearby BLK Hospital, where he was declared dead.

Officials from the Delhi Education Department confirmed on Thursday that a dedicated committee has been set up to investigate the allegations and assess the school’s conduct in the lead-up to the incident.

However, the victim’s father, Pradeep Patil, disapproved of the move as inadequate, saying the suspension was “only temporary” and reiterating his demand for the immediate arrest of the teachers mentioned in the FIR. “We need to send a message that no teacher should treat our children like that,” he said.

Investigators said the boy left behind a suicide note in which he named several teachers, accused them of mental harassment, apologised to his family and asked that his organs be donated.

The FIR, registered at the Rajendra Nagar police station, includes sections pertaining to abetment of suicide. Police are currently recording statements from classmates, teachers and school administrators as part of the ongoing probe.

“My son was a little mischievous, like any child his age, and I had told the teacher that such behaviour is natural in a child. But despite this, the teacher continued to harass him,” Pradeep Patil said while speaking to India Today.

CHANGE OF SCHOOL WAS PLANNED

The family had reportedly been preparing to transfer the boy to another school following his repeated complaints, and were waiting only for his examinations to conclude before making the move.

The father said, “We had assured our son that only 10 days were left for his exams, and after that, we would shift him to another school. He had agreed to this. But three days ago, his teacher reportedly told him, and informed us, that he would be expelled from the school. He became deeply disturbed by this.”

According to him, the situation worsened just a day before the tragedy. Patil recounted that his son slipped during a drama class, but instead of receiving help, he was “pushed and insulted in front of everyone, and he was told he was overacting.”

He added that the same teacher went on to blame the boy for the fall. “The teacher accused him of falling intentionally and when he started to cry, she said ‘don’t do drama. This won’t make any difference to me.’ This humiliation happened in front of his classmates. He could not bear it.”

The father said the suicide note recovered by the police contained the names of three teachers as well as the principal, alleging that they had subjected the boy to continuous mental harassment throughout the year.

“He also expressed a wish to donate his organs to those in need and apologised to his mother and brother for not fulfilling their dreams. His last wish was that justice be done—so that no other child faces what he went through,” he said.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/two-teachers-headmistress-among-four-suspended-after-fir-registered-for-suicide-abetment-2823424-2025-11-20

The editors condemned the raid as a “coordinated attempt to silence independent journalism,” insisting that criticising the government is not inimical to the state and calling on authorities to withdraw the charges.

The State Investigation Agency (SIA) of Jammu and Kashmir Police on Thursday raided the Jammu office of the Kashmir Times newspaper, recovering cartridges of AK rifles, rounds of pistols, and hand grenade pins during a search linked to allegations that the publication was promoting activities against the country.

Officials said SIA teams conducted a thorough search of the premises, including computers, as part of the investigation. The promoters of the newspaper are expected to be questioned in the coming days.

Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Singh Choudhary reacted cautiously, saying that action should follow only where wrongdoing is established. “If they have done something wrong, then action should be taken. If you do it only to (build) pressure, then that will be wrong,” he told reporters.

Founded in 1954 by veteran journalist Ved Bhasin, the Kashmir Times has long been regarded as pro-separatist. Ved Bhasin, who also served as president of the Jammu Press Club, passed away in recent years, after which his daughter, Anuradha Bhasin Jamwal, along with her husband Prabodh Jamwal, took over the management and editorial responsibilities.

Anuradha Bhasin and Prabodh Jamwal are currently abroad. The newspaper has not been publishing its print edition from Jammu since 2021–22, though its online edition remains active. Ved Bhasin’s name had also surfaced in the Ghulam Nabi Fai terror seminar controversy years ago.

PUBLICATION CALLS RAID AN ATTACK ON PRESS FREEDOM

In a joint statement, editors Anuradha Bhasin Jamwal and Prabodh Jamwal condemned the raid, calling it a “coordinated attempt to silence independent journalism.” They said, “Criticising the government is not the same as being inimical to the state. A robust, questioning press is essential to a healthy democracy. The accusations levelled against us are designed to intimidate, to delegitimise, and ultimately to silence. We will not be silenced.”

The editors urged authorities to withdraw the charges and stop what they described as harassment, appealing to media colleagues, civil society, and citizens to stand in solidarity. They reiterated that journalism is not a crime and stressed that their commitment to truth will continue despite the raid.

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leader and Mehbooba Mufti’s daughter, Iltija Mufti, criticised the raid, calling it “preposterous” and an example of state “high-handedness.” She said the Kashmir Times was among the few newspapers in the region that “spoke truth to power and refused to bend or buckle under pressure and intimidation.”

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/kashmir-times-jammu-office-raided-ak-rifle-cartridges-rounds-of-pistols-recovered-2823164-2025-11-20

The call center was designed to give an impression of a legitimate international customer-support centre and the accused, who are fluent in English, used to call foreign nationals on the pretext of helping them and send them links in order to hack their systems and blackmail them using their data.

The Delhi Police have busted a fake international call centre, targeting foreign nationals, in south Delhi’s Satbari village and arrested eight people, including a woman.

According to the officials, the accused persons targeted foreign nationals using voice-over-internet protocol (VoIP)-based calling setups, foreign databases and fake communication tools and cheated hundreds of victims.

The call center was designed to give an impression of a legitimate international customer-support centre and the accused, who are fluent in English, used to call foreign nationals on the pretext of helping them and sending them links in order to hack their systems and blackmail them using their data.

Multiple computer systems, mobile phones, VoIP software, and foreign data sets were recovered from the scene, officials said and added that three crypto wallets, multiple SIM cards, laptops and chequebooks were also recovered from the building.

According to the police, the cyber cell operation also uncovered fake firms, mule accounts, and e-commerce front companies.

Sanu, believed to be the mastermind, escaped shortly before the raid. Officials said that he is a repeat offender and has been named in multiple call centre frauds.

“A special police team has been formed to arrest him,” an official said.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/delhi-police-bust-fake-international-call-centre-targeting-foreign-nationals-8-arrested-2823497-2025-11-21

Due to the risk of exposure while bathing or participating in water rituals, the government has mandated strict precautions for pilgrims

The Karnataka government has issued an urgent health advisory for thousands of pilgrims travelling to Kerala’s Sabarimala shrine, following a surge in cases of amoebic meningoencephalitis (AME), a rare but nearly fatal brain infection.

The advisory, released by the Commissioner of the Health and Family Welfare Department, highlights the risk posed by Naegleria fowleri, a toxic, free-living amoeba. This microorganism thrives primarily in warm, fresh water sources like stagnant pools, lakes, and soil. Crucially, the infection is not contagious and cannot be contracted by drinking contaminated water; it enters the body exclusively through the nose, travelling to the brain, where it causes severe inflammation.

Due to the risk of exposure while bathing or participating in water rituals, the government has mandated strict precautions for pilgrims. The guidelines explicitly instruct travellers to use nose clips or firmly hold their noses shut whenever they immerse themselves in water bodies to prevent the amoeba’s entry.

The department also stressed the importance of timely medical intervention. “Pilgrims are advised to be vigilant for symptoms appearing within seven days of water contact. Key warning signs include fever, severe headache, vomiting, a stiff neck, and changes in mental state or behaviour,” said the advisory issued on Tuesday.

Source: https://www.news18.com/india/silent-threat-in-sacred-waters-karnataka-warns-sabarimala-pilgrims-about-deadly-brain-eating-amoeba-9716847.html

Efforts are in progress to repatriate fugitive gangster Anmol Bishnoi, implicated in the murder of NCP leader Baba Siddique. Sources indicate he may return to India on Wednesday, with multiple agencies involved in the extradition process after the NIA requested his return from the US.

Efforts to bring fugitive gangster Anmol Bishnoi, a key accused in the killing of NCP leader Baba Siddique, back to India are underway, with multiple agencies involved in the process. He is likely to be repatriated on Wednesday, sources told Times Now.
Bishnoi is being deported along with a batch of illegal immigrants staying in the US. Around hundreds of individuals are supposed to land in Delhi tomorrow. The flight will arrive at Delhi’s IGI Airport at 10 a.m. The aircraft has already taken off from the US.
Anmol is one among them who has an RCN against him.

“It has come to the notice of this ministry that some news channels have been broadcasting content related to alleged persons involved in Red Fort blasts, justifying their acts of violence, as well as information videos of how to make explosive material,” the advisory to all private satellite TV channels said.

The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting on Tuesday issued an advisory to all private television channels against telecasting visuals that could aid, abet or promote unlawful activities.

“It has come to the notice of this ministry that some news channels have been broadcasting content related to alleged persons involved in Red Fort blasts, justifying their acts of violence, as well as information videos of how to make explosive material,” the advisory to all private satellite TV channels said.

It said such broadcasts may inadvertently encourage or incite violence, disrupt public order, and pose risks to national security.

“All TV channels are advised to exercise the highest level of discretion and sensitivity while reporting on such matters,” the advisory said.

It cited sections of the Cable Television Network Rules which state that no programme should contain anything obscene, defamatory, deliberately false, or suggestive innuendos and half-truths; be likely to encourage or incite violence, contain anything against the maintenance of law and order, or promote anti-national attitudes; or contain anything that affects the integrity of the nation.

Source: https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/centre-issues-advisory-to-tv-channels-over-airing-sensitive-provocative-content-after-delhi-car-blast

In an open online conference on a new app for Aadhaar, UIDAI CEO Bhuvnesh Kumar said that the authority is considering introducing a new rule in December to discourage offline verification by entities such as hotels, event organisers.

The Unique Identification Authority of India is mulling issuing an Aadhaar card with the holder’s photo and a QR code to prevent misuse of individuals’ data and discourage offline verification practices, which are in contravention of the present law, a top official said on Tuesday.

In an open online conference on a new app for Aadhaar, UIDAI CEO Bhuvnesh Kumar said that the authority is considering introducing a new rule in December to discourage offline verification by entities such as hotels, event organisers, etc, and enhance the age verification process using Aadhaar while maintaining the privacy of individuals.

“There is a thought process as to why there should be any detail on the card. It should be only a photo and a QR code. If we keep printing, then people will keep accepting what is printed. People who know how to misuse it will keep misusing it,” Kumar said.

The Aadhaar Act prohibits the collection, use, or storage of an Aadhaar number or biometric information of any individual for any purpose in case of offline verification.

However, several entities continue to collect and store photocopies of the Aadhaar card.

Kumar said that legislation is in work to discourage offline verification by using an Aadhaar card copy, which will be taken up for consideration by the Aadhaar authority on December 1.

“Aadhaar should never be used as a document. It should only be authenticated with the Aadhaar number or verified using QR code. Otherwise, it can be a fake document,” Kumar said.

The UIDAI held a joint meeting with several stakeholders including banks, hotels, fintech firms etc to update them on the new app in the works which is expected to be rolled out soon.

The new app is expected to fine tune Aadhaar authentication service in line with Digital Personal Data Protection Act which will be completely operational in 18 months.

The app will enable users to update their address proof documents on the new app and add other family members on the same app who don’t own any mobile phone.

An UIDAI official said that the new app will also enable updating of mobile number of Aadhaar holders within the family using face authentication feature in the app.

Kumar said that the new app will replace the mAadhaar app, and it will ease the authentication process for the various entities that need to verify an individual for various purposes.

The new app will work like Aadhaar verification done by the Digiyatra app.

He said that the authentication service can generate various use cases and entities can give feedback to UIDAI on new use cases of Aadhaar authentication services.

Another UIDAI official explained that the new app will help in the verification of individuals in several cases, including entry into events, cinema halls, buying certain products where the minimum age requirement is 18 years, as well as student verifications, check-in at hotels, entry into residential societies, etc.

The official authority has published details online to update systems of offline verification seeking entities (OVSE).

Source: https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/aadhaar-card-with-just-photo-and-qr-code-soon-what-top-official-said-9659880

The probe began after FIRs accusing the university of fake NAAC accreditation and misleading UGC claims. The ED is also examining whether any laundered funds were used to support those involved in the November 10 Red Fort blast, which killed 14 people.

The Enforcement Directorate on Tuesday arrested Jawad Ahmed Siddiqui, founder of Al-Falah University and chairman of the Al-Falah Group, in a money laundering case that is also being examined for possible terror-financing links, officials said.

The action comes amid heightened scrutiny of the Faridabad-based university, which investigators describe as the epicentre of a ‘white-collar’ terror module linked to the November 10 Red Fort blast that killed 14 people and injured several others. Earlier in the day, India Today TV reported that Siddiqui was being questioned, and his residence was under search.

ED officials said the arrest followed detailed scrutiny of evidence collected during searches at university premises and other locations tied to the Al-Falah Group.

FIRs ON FAKE ACCREDITATION TRIGGERED ED INQUIRY

According to sources, the ED probe was initiated after two FIRs by Delhi Police Crime Branch alleged that Al-Falah University made fraudulent NAAC accreditation claims and falsely projected itself as recognised under Section 12(B) of the UGC Act to mislead students and parents.

The UGC later clarified that the university is listed only under Section 2(f) as a state private university and has never been eligible for grants under 12(B).

TRUST STRUCTURE AND FINANCIAL TRAIL

Sources said the Al-Falah Charitable Trust, established in 1995, with Siddiqui as a founding and managing trustee, owns and financially consolidates all educational institutions under the Al-Falah Group. The trust and its institutions have grown rapidly since the 1990s, but investigators say this rise was not supported by matching financials.

Searches conducted at the university and at residential premises of key personnel revealed that crores of rupees in alleged proceeds of crime were generated and diverted.

Investigators found evidence that funds from the trust were routed to family-owned entities, with construction and catering contracts allegedly awarded to firms linked to Siddiqui’s wife and children.

RS 48 LAKH CASH HAUL, SHELL FIRMS FOUND

The ED seized Rs 48 lakh in cash, digital devices and extensive documentation. The agency has also identified multiple shell companies connected to the group, along with suspected violations under several other laws.

According to sources, evidence recovered during the probe shows a clear pattern of fund diversion, layering and misuse of trust funds, all under Siddiqui’s effective control of the organisation’s finances and decision-making.

POSSIBLE TERROR-FINANCING ANGLE

Alongside the financial probe, the ED is also examining whether any part of the laundered funds may have been channelled to individuals linked to the November 10 Red Fort blast, which killed 14 people. This line of enquiry remains ongoing.

After establishing his alleged role in generating and layering proceeds of crime, the ED placed Siddiqui under arrest on 18 November 2025, following due legal procedure. Further investigation is underway.

LINKS TO ARRESTED DOCTORS AND THE RED FORT BLAST

The United States has deported 200 Indian nationals, including notorious gangster Anmol Bishnoi, back to India. This significant move marks a crucial step in India’s fight against organised crime and fugitive criminals abroad.

In a significant coordinated deportation operation, the United States has sent back 200 Indian nationals, including alleged gangster Anmol Bishnoi, two fugitives wanted in Punjab, and 197 undocumented migrants. The flight, which has already departed from the US, is scheduled to land at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport at 10 am on Wednesday, officials confirmed.

Bishnoi, the younger brother of jailed gang leader Lawrence Bishnoi, is wanted in several high-profile criminal cases across India, including the murder of former Maharashtra minister Baba Siddique and the April 2024 shooting outside actor Salman Khan’s residence.

FAKE PASSPORT, SECRET ESCAPE

Intelligence sources say Anmol fled India in April 2022 using a forged passport, just weeks before singer Sidhu Moosewala was shot dead on 29 May that year.

He is believed to have been travelling on fraudulent Russian documents, moving between the US and Canada until he was eventually traced and detained.

Investigators allege he continued running gang operations from abroad via encrypted communication platforms.

HELD IN US WITH ELECTRONIC MONITORING

Sources added that after being detained in California last year, Anmol remained in police custody and was placed under an ankle monitor, a GPS-enabled electronic device used to track suspects, parolees and individuals under judicial supervision.

These monitors are typically used for people released on bail, those under house arrest, people freed on probation or parole, or anyone placed under court-ordered surveillance. The device is usually a black strap with a small, locked tracking box, which cannot be easily removed.

His final deportation is being carried out from Louisiana, officials said.

VICTIM’S FAMILY KEPT PURSUING US AUTHORITIES

NCP leader and former MLA Zeeshan Siddique, son of the late Baba Siddique, said he received an email confirming that Anmol had been “removed” from US territory.

He said his family had registered a victim contact status with US agencies, which entitled them to official updates. He urged the Centre to ensure his immediate arrest upon landing.

He also said he had repeatedly written to US authorities detailing his father’s killing and the suspected role of the Bishnoi network.

Zeeshan added that he had raised concerns about his own security with Deputy CM Ajit Pawar and Union Minister Devendra Fadnavis, requesting a review after the recent developments.

AGENCIES PREPARE FOR CUSTODY BATTLE

The government of Ira has suspended visa-waiver facility available to ordinary Indian passport holders visiting Iran with effect from November 22. The Indian nationals with ordinary passports would be required to obtain a visa to enter or transit through Iran.

In a shock to travellers, Iran has decided to suspend visa waiver facility for ordinary Indian passport holders. It is said that the decision has been taken in the wake of several reported incidents of Indians being lured to the country on false promises.

A tragic accident in Saudi Arabia resulted in the deaths of 45 individuals, primarily from Hyderabad, when a bus collided with an oil tanker near Madina.

The ill-fated bus in Saudi Arabia that collided with an oil tanker and met with a brutal accident, claiming the lives of 45 innocent people, also carried 18 members across three generations from a single family.
At least 45 people, most of them from Hyderabad, were killed in Madina, Saudi Arabia, Hyderabad Police Commissioner VC Sajjanar said on Monday, citing preliminary information.
According to a relative, the bus had around 18 members from one family spanning three generations.

Mohammad Aslam, a nephew of Shaik Nazeeruddin, said that Nazeeruddin, a retired railway employee, was travelling with his wife, son, three daughters, and grandchildren to Madina when tragedy struck. Another son of Nazeeruddin resides in the United States.

In a statement, Aslam said he did not know whether it was an accident or something else, but confirmed that 18 members of his family were on board. He demanded a proper inquiry to determine the real cause of the accident.

This comes a month after the deaths of several children in Madhya Pradesh, linked to contaminated cough syrups found to contain higher than permissible levels of diethylene glycol

After multiple child deaths linked to contaminated cough syrups in recent months, the Centre is considering a major regulatory change: cough syrups may no longer be sold freely over the counter and could soon require a doctor’s prescription.

According to a proposal before the Drugs Consultative Committee (DCC), which was accessed by News18, syrups meant for treating cough should be removed from the list that allows sale of medicinal products without a licence.

The agenda document asked the panel to deliberate on the matter considering the “recent incidences due to contaminated cough syrup”, hinting at cases where children suffered poisoning and acute kidney injury after consuming contaminated products.

At present, cough syrups fall under Schedule K – a category meant for everyday, low-risk medical products that can be sold even in villages without requiring a full drug-sale licence. The list includes items such as syrups, lozenges, pills and tablets for cough apart from liniments, bandages, absorbent cotton, adhesive plasters, tincture of iodine and benzoin and other first-aid products. These products are exempt on the condition that they are sold “in the original retail pack of a manufacturer licensed under the Act”.

“In view of the recent incidences due to contaminated cough syrup, it is proposed that the exemption provided for the sale of syrups for cough may be deleted,” said the agenda document.

“DCC may kindly deliberate the issue and give recommendation in the matter,” it said.

The document only mentioned deliberations on “syrups” and not on another cough-related remedial product such as lozenges or pills.

Schedule K products are chosen because they are considered safe for routine use, unlikely to cause harm, and essential for communities where no licensed pharmacy is available.

Other products part of schedule K are aspirin and paracetamol tablets, analgesic balms, antacid preparations, gripe water for use of infants and inhalers containing drugs for treatment of cold and nasal congestion among others.

The latest move comes a month after the deaths of several children in Madhya Pradesh that were linked to contaminated cough syrups found to contain higher than permissible levels of diethylene glycol. Following the incident, the World Health Organization (WHO) issued a medical alert warning that the untracked distribution of such syrups through informal or localised channels could pose a risk to health.

Source : https://www.news18.com/india/cough-syrups-to-be-made-prescription-only-after-series-of-contamination-deaths-ws-l-9714556.html

The Enforcement Directorate has launched searches in at least 25 locations linked to Al-Falah University’s trustees and associates as part of its probe into the varsity’s funding.

The Enforcement Directorate on Tuesday conducted searches in at least 25 locations across Delhi-NCR as it began its probe into the funding of Haryana’s Al-Falah University, in connection with the Faridabad terror module and the Delhi car blast case.

According to the details, the probe agency was conducting searches on the premises of the trustees and other persons related to the University.

The raids began at nearly 5 am today.

The controversy intensified when Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw quoted the post and suggested introducing a fee to deter misuse. “They should charge an additional Rs 5000 per airport n then they will see how many genuine passengers there are!” she wrote, igniting a storm of mixed reactions.

A viral video circulating on social media has sparked a heated debate about the alleged misuse of airport wheelchair assistance by Indian passengers, leading Biocon founder Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw to weigh in with a sharp response. The footage, originally shared by a Chinese X user, shows a long stretch of passengers seated in wheelchairs being pushed by airport personnel.

The uploader claimed that several passengers travelling on India–US routes were using wheelchair assistance not out of necessity but to access priority boarding and bypass long queues. The post suggested that on certain flights, the number of passengers requesting the service appeared unusually high, allegedly reaching up to 80 percent.

The video gained traction in India after another user reshared it, claiming that nearly 30 percent of travellers on India–US flights were requesting wheelchair support, despite many seemingly being physically fit. The user labelled it a growing ‘scam’ that was affecting genuinely dependent passengers, who rely on the service due to age, disability or medical reasons.

Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw Reacts To Viral Video

Gas supply across parts of Mumbai, Thane and Navi Mumbai was disrupted on Sunday after third-party damage to GAIL’s main gas pipeline inside the Rashtriya Chemicals and Fertilizers (RCF) compound affected the flow of gas to Mahanagar Gas Limited’s (MGL) City Gate Station (CGS) at Wadala.

Gas supply across parts of Mumbai, Thane and Navi Mumbai was disrupted on Sunday after third-party damage to GAIL’s main gas pipeline inside the Rashtriya Chemicals and Fertilizers (RCF) compound affected the flow of gas to Mahanagar Gas Limited’s (MGL) City Gate Station (CGS) at Wadala.

MGL Prioritises Domestic PNG Supply

According to an MGL spokesperson, efforts are underway to gradually restore supply to CNG stations. The utility has prioritized uninterrupted supply to domestic piped natural gas (PNG) consumers, ensuring household usage remains unaffected.

CNG Stations May Remain Non-Operational

However, several CNG stations—including those catering to public transport fleets—may remain non-operational until the supply to CGS Wadala is fully restored. Industrial and commercial consumers in the impacted areas have been advised to shift to alternative fuels in the interim.

Source : https://www.freepressjournal.in/mumbai/gas-supply-disrupted-across-mumbai-thane-and-navi-mumbai-after-damage-to-gail-pipeline-at-rcf-cng-stations-affected

The National Investigation Agency has made a significant breakthrough in the Red Fort car bomb case by arresting a key conspirator from Kashmir. This development sheds light on the wider network behind the deadly attack that shook Delhi earlier this month.

In a major escalation of its probe into the Red Fort car bomb blast, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has arrested a Kashmiri man who played a crucial role in helping suicide bomber Dr Umar Un Nabi execute the attack that killed 10 people and injured 32 in Delhi earlier this month.

Amir was arrested from Delhi after investigators confirmed that the car used in the November 10 blast was registered in his name. According to the NIA, he had travelled to the capital to assist Umar in securing the vehicle, which was later turned into a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device (VBIED).

The agency said Amir had actively conspired with Umar, an Assistant Professor of General Medicine at Al-Falah University in Faridabad, to carry out the bombing near the Red Fort.

Forensic analysis has identified the charred body found at the blast site as that of Umar Un Nabi, confirming he was the suicide bomber who drove the explosive-laden car.

Investigators have also seized another vehicle belonging to Umar, which is now undergoing forensic examination for additional evidence.

So far, the NIA has examined 73 witnesses, including several survivors injured in the blast, as part of its effort to trace every link in the chain of the conspiracy.

The agency is coordinating closely with Delhi Police, Jammu & Kashmir Police, Haryana Police, Uttar Pradesh Police and other central units as it pursues multiple leads across states. Officials believe the conspiracy extends beyond the two identified conspirators, and more arrests are expected as the investigation progresses.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/nia-arrests-delhi-bomber-dr-umar-un-nabis-aide-who-helped-procure-the-car-used-in-red-fort-blast-2820820-2025-11-16

In a response to the apex court, the poll body noted that the court had, on September 8, clarified that Aadhaar may be used only to verify identity

The Election Commission of India (ECI) informed the Supreme Court that it has already directed officials in Bihar to use Aadhaar strictly as proof of identity, not citizenship, when updating the state’s revised electoral roll.

In a response submitted to the apex court, the Commission noted that the court had, on September 8, clarified that Aadhaar may be used only to verify identity under Section 23(4) of the Representation of the People Act (RPA), 1950.

Section 23 governs the procedures for adding or removing names from electoral rolls.

Following this clarification, the EC said it issued instructions on September 9, 2025, to Bihar’s Chief Electoral Officer, reiterating that Aadhaar should not be treated as evidence of citizenship during voter roll revisions.

The EC’s submission was filed in response to an interlocutory application by advocate Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay, who sought a specific direction that Aadhaar be used solely for identity verification in line with Section 23(4).

The Commission further pointed to an August 2023 office memorandum issued by the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), which explicitly states that Aadhaar does not serve as proof of citizenship, residence, or date of birth.

This position has also been acknowledged by the Bombay High Court, which held that Aadhaar cannot be relied upon to establish date of birth and that the responsibility to prove such details lies with the cardholder.

The EC stressed that the Supreme Court has already clarified the limited permissible use of Aadhaar in the context of updating electoral rolls, including for the ongoing revisions in Bihar.

On October 7, the Supreme Court issued notice on Upadhyay’s application.

Source: https://www.news18.com/india/aadhaar-can-verify-identity-not-citizenship-for-electoral-roll-inclusion-poll-body-to-top-court-9710710.html

A man from Lucknow appealed to the Russian government for his son to join Russia’s promising cancer vaccine trial after Indian doctors showed limited response.

The Russian government took a sensitive stand to an appeal made by Lucknow resident Manu Srivastava, who sought help to save the life of his 21-year-old son, Ansh Srivastava, who is battling cancer.

Manu Srivastava had requested the Russian government to conduct its vaccine trial on his son, as the vaccine in Russia was not available in India.

While speaking to ANI, Manu said that his son battling cancer that has now advanced to the fourth stage which is at its fourth stage. He said that although his son is being treated in India, the doctors haven’t been fully responsive. He then wrote to both the Government of India and the Russian government after learning that a new vaccine had been developed in Russia, proving very effective in treating cancer.

“When I learned that a vaccine had been developed in Russia, proving very effective in treating cancer, I sent letters to the Government of India and the Russian government. The reply came back saying my request was under consideration and the Russian government had sent it to their Ministry of Health for further processing,” he told ANI.

“We also wrote to the Indian government. A letter came from there as well. It stated that the vaccine, currently manufactured in Russia, is being implemented only in Russia. The people conducting the trials are local. So, we, and no other country, have yet received approval to conduct trials,” he added.

Source: https://www.news18.com/india/up-father-seeks-russian-cancer-vaccine-trial-on-his-21-year-old-son-moscow-replies-ws-l-9711077.html

For the next five days, the IMD has predicted Delhi’s minimum and maximum temperature to swing between 8-12 and 23-27 degrees Celsius respectively.

As winters knock on the gates of the national capital, the temperature in Delhi dipped to 9.7 degrees Celsius on Saturday, which is 3.8 notches below normal for the season. This is the first time the minimum temperature in Delhi has gone below the 10 degrees Celsius mark during this year’s winter season.

The maximum temperature recorded in the capital on Saturday was 26.6 degrees Celsius, which is also 1.9 degrees Celsius below normal for the season.

For Sunday, November 16, the India Meteorological Department has predicted minimum temperature between 09-11 degrees Celsius and maximum temperature between 24-26 degrees Celsius in Delhi. It also said that the sky in Delhi will remain “mainly clear with mist” and “shallow fog” during morning hours of Sunday.

For the next five days as well, the IMD has predicted Delhi’s minimum temperature to swing between 8-12 degrees Celsius and maximum temperature between 23-27 degrees Celsius.

Delhi air quality turns ‘severe’
Delhi’s continues to breathe toxins on Sunday morning, as of 8 am, Delhi’s air remained ‘very poor’ with AQI of 385. However, in some areas such as Anand Vihar, Chandni Chowk, ITO, and Bawana, the air turned ‘severe’ as well with AQI of 412, 418, 417, and 436 respectively.

Delhi’s air remained ‘very poor’ on Saturday as well with an AQI of 386, according to the Central Pollution Control Board data. On Friday too, the air was in the ‘very poor’ category, which is a slight improvement from earlier days during the week when Delhi’s air turned ‘severe’.

Source: https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/delhi-air-quality-turns-severe-as-mercury-dips-to-9-7-degrees-celsius-101763257257431.html

IIT Kanpur Online PG Programmes: These programmes aim to deliver IIT-standard learning to students across India and abroad, helping bridge existing gaps in advanced education.

The Indian higher education landscape is witnessing a major shift, with professionals increasingly required to upgrade their skills to stay relevant in a rapidly changing job market. Flexible online learning programmes offered by reputed institutions now enable working professionals and graduates to pursue advanced studies without relocating or leaving their jobs.

In a significant step toward expanding access to high-quality education, the Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur (IIT Kanpur) has launched its Online Postgraduate Programmes, MTech, MSc, and Postgraduate Diplomas. These programmes aim to deliver IIT-standard learning to students across India and abroad, helping bridge existing gaps in advanced education.

Each programme is identical in content, structure, and evaluation to IIT Kanpur’s on-campus offerings and operates under the same Senate-approved framework. At least 85 per cent of all course material is developed and delivered by IIT Kanpur faculty and long-term visiting faculty. Industry professionals contribute selectively to add practical and interdisciplinary insights, ensuring an effective blend of academic depth and real-world application.

The programmes also emphasise credible and transparent evaluation. A minimum of 50% of the total grade weight comes from in-person, proctored examinations conducted at authorised centres in major Indian cities. This ensures that every grade reflects genuine learning and effort. International learners are offered online proctoring options with transparent reporting to maintain fairness.

Source: https://www.ndtv.com/education/iit-kanpur-launches-online-postgraduate-programmes-check-details-here-9637949

Authorities have dismantled a doctor-led terror module linked to Jaish-e-Mohammed and Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind through coordinated operations in multiple regions, resulting in eight arrests, including three doctors from Al Falah University.

The investigation into the doctor-led terror module unfolded through a series of coordinated raids and recoveries across Faridabad, Nuh, Mewat and Jammu & Kashmir, according to top Faridabad Police sources.
Eight people, including three doctors affiliated with the Al Falah University in Faridabad, were arrested and 2,900 kg of explosives seized with the uncovering of a white collar terror module involving the Jaish-e-Mohammed and Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind and spanning Kashmir, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh.
Here’s the sequence of events:
October 30:
Jammu & Kashmir Police reached Faridabad with a search warrant. The Police Commissioner assigned the Crime Branch to assist. On the same day, Dr Muzammil was arrested from Al-Falah University and taken to J&K on transit remand.

November 8:
J&K Police returned with inputs from Muzammil’s interrogation indicating the presence of weapons and explosives. From Dr Shaheen’s silver Swift, police recovered an assault rifle, a pistol, three rifle magazines, 83 cartridges, and two pistol magazines with seven live rounds. The car was seized from inside the campus.

Twelve teams from Faridabad Crime Branch and J&K Police conducted searches across the university, Douj and nearby areas.
November 9:
In Room No. 15 of a building in Douj, police found 12 suitcases containing 358 kg of ready-to-use explosives.
Timers, batteries, detonators, cutters, masks, wigs, wires and IED-making materials were also recovered. Everything was handed over to the J&K Police bomb squad.
November 10:
Based on further inputs, 2,553 kg of ammonium nitrate packed in bags was recovered from the house of Imam Ishtiyaq in Fatehpur Taga.
At 6:50 pm, the Red Fort blast took place.
By this time, since Muzammil’s arrest on October 30, Dr Umar had been absconding, with his movements traced around Nuh and Mewat.

November 12:
Police received input about a suspicious red EcoSport. The vehicle was traced and rounded up from Khandawali village. No explosives were found, but the car was forwarded for forensic testing to check residue.
November 13:
The EcoSport was seized at 5 pm.
Wasib, a Douj resident linked to Umar and working as a computer operator at the university, was detained and handed over to investigating agencies.
A silver Brezza belonging to Shaheen was also located inside the university. NSG and CFSL inspected and seized the vehicle; nothing suspicious was found.
Source: https://www.timesnownews.com/india/from-al-falah-to-red-fort-timeline-of-events-that-exposed-faridabad-doctor-terror-network-article-153158419

Heavy machinery, along with specialised personnel, is being used to remove the debris and widen access to the collapsed area as quickly as possible.

A portion of a stone quarry collapsed in Uttar Pradesh’s Sonbhadra, trapping several labourers under the rubble. Operations are underway to rescue the trapped workers.
A wall inside Krishna Mines Quarry suddenly caved in on Sunday, trapping several workers.
The exact number of people trapped is still unknown, but Uttar Pradesh minister Sanjeev Kumar Gond, who visited the site in Billi Markundi village in Sonbhadra district, said “around a dozen labourers” may be under the debris. Uttar Pradesh Minister of State for Social Welfare Gond, who is also the local MLA, visited the spot with district officials.

District Magistrate B N Singh said, “Some labourers are buried after a wall collapsed inside the quarry.” Teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) are carrying out rescue operations at the site.

Heavy machinery, along with specialised personnel, is being used to remove the debris and widen access to the collapsed area as quickly as possible.

“The district magistrate, superintendent of police and other officials are at the spot, and relief operations are underway. I am also present here and every possible effort is being made,” the minister said.
“The circumstances under which the mine was operating will be investigated. Strict action will be taken against those found guilty,” the minister said. “We stand with the families of the victims.” Gond said that ex-gratia compensation would be provided to people affected in the incident. “This is a very sad incident,” he added.

Source: https://www.timesnownews.com/india/portion-of-stone-quarry-caves-in-uttar-pradeshs-sonbhadra-several-workers-trapped-rescue-ops-underway-article-153160607

Following the incident, Naveen Arora was rushed to a private hospital, where doctors declared the RSS leader’s son brought dead. Senior officers, including DSP City Sukhwinder Singh, reached the scene soon after the incident. The DSP said the police were scanning CCTV footage to identify the attackers and that teams had been formed to track them.

Naveen Arora, the son of senior RSS leader Baldev Raj Arora, was shot dead in Ferozepur on Saturday evening (November 16) in what police believe was a targeted attack carried out by motorcycle-borne assailants.

According to initial accounts, Naveen was returning home on foot from his shop in the main bazaar when two unidentified men on a motorcycle approached him near Baba Noor Shah Wali Durgah. They opened fire at close range, leaving him critically injured.

He was rushed to a private hospital, where doctors declared him brought dead. Senior officers, including DSP City Sukhwinder Singh, reached the scene soon after the incident. The DSP said the police were scanning CCTV footage to identify the attackers and that teams had been formed to track them.

A powerful car explosion near Delhi’s Red Fort on November 10 killed 13 people and injured several others, shattering the area. Authorities continue to document the wreckage and aftermath of the high-intensity blast.

Delhi Police has recovered three 9mm cartridges from the spot where a car exploded near the Red Fort earlier this month, killing 13 people and injuring several others, sources told India Today TV.

According to officers familiar with the probe, two of the cartridges are live rounds while the third is an empty shell.

The discovery is significant because 9mm ammunition is typically used by security forces and police personnel. However, officials said that no pistol or weapon part was found at the site, raising questions about how the rounds landed there.

Police have also verified the ammunition issued to their own staff present at the location, but none of their rounds were unaccounted for, ruling out the possibility that the cartridges belonged to personnel on duty.

Meanwhile, India Today TV has also accessed as many as 43 CCTV images that trace the complete movement of the Hyundai i20 car driven by the primary suspect, Dr Umar Nabi, to Delhi’s Red Fort on November 10.

Officials confirmed Umar’s identity after DNA lifted from the blast site matched samples taken from his mother, formally tying him to the attack.

These never-seen-before images showed Umar’s movement with new clarity, following him from a Faridabad university campus to Old Delhi just hours before the explosion. Police sources said that officials stitched together this route using footage from over 5,000 CCTV cameras across multiple districts, highways, and key checkpoints in Delhi-NCR.

Source: https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/9mm-cartridges-typically-used-by-army-recovered-from-red-fort-car-blast-site-but-no-weapon-found-sources-2820588-2025-11-16

Rahul Gandhi is expected to be extremely disappointed, especially after his ‘vote chori’ press conferences, which didn’t really help his party at the end.

The Indian National Congress (INC) had high expectations when it decided to contest on 61 seats in Bihar. However, the election hasn’t gone according to their plan, as they won only six seats, a disappointing outcome to their ambitions.

It is one of their poorest performances in Bihar. In the 2020 state assembly elections, the Congress secured 19 seats, compared to 27 in 2015. Meanwhile, in 2010, they secured four seats.

Follow live updates on the Bihar election results here.

The INDIA bloc’s aggressive campaign in Bihar revolved around Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s ‘vote chori’ (vote theft) allegations. However, his accusations and aspirations crumbled on Friday as the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) secured a dominant victory.

Rahul Gandhi’s ‘vote chori’ accusations

Rahul Gandhi presented an inspiring and aggressive image in a series of press conferences, where he accused the Election Commission of India (ECI) of vote theft under the instructions of the BJP-led NDA. In his three press conferences, he levelled allegations of how the ECI was stealing and mass-deleting. He also accused the body of data manipulation.

He went a notch higher in his final press conference on November 6, where he alleged and showed evidence of a Brazilian model on the Haryana voter list. Her photo appeared under 22 different names, including Sweety and Seema.

Failed to strike a chord with the public

Either his ‘vote chori’ message wasn’t heard, or it simply fell flat, as he never showed his promised ‘hydrogen bomb’ of evidence. Their performance in Bihar can be summed up simply as disastrous, and it could take a huge toll on the party’s confidence and image.

Congress has become a minor player in Bihar now, often finishing in third or fourth place. Their last strong and significant leadership presence in the state was under Jagannath Mishra. He was elected as chief minister of Bihar three times and was the most powerful Congress leader in the late 1970s and 1980s. However, since then, the party has seen a decline in its influence in Bihar, leaving a significant leadership vacuum.

Source : https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/big-hopes-narrow-outcome-congress-contested-61-seats-in-bihar-won-only-6-101763115989978.html

Sarbjit Kaur of Amanipur village in Punjab’s Kapurthala went to Pakistan on November 4 to participate in ‘Parkash Purb’ celebrations at Gurdwara Nankana Sahib.

A woman pilgrim from Punjab who was part of the jatha’ (group) visiting Pakistan to offer prayers at the Nankana Sahib has still not returned, police said on Friday.

She was among the many Sikh community members from India who were visiting the bordering nation for the 556th birth anniversary celebrations of Guru Nanak Dev. Identified as Sarbjit Kaur, a resident of Amanipur village in Punjab’s Kapurthala, the woman crossed over to Pakistan via Attari-Wagah border.

Police have launched an investigation to check her whereabouts and three cases have been registered at various police stations in Kapurthala, said Station House Officer (SHO) of Talwandi Chaudhrian, Nirmal Singh.

Sarbjit was part of the ‘jatha’ consisting of over 1,900 Sikh members that went to Pakistan on November 4 to participate in the ‘Parkash Purb’ celebrations at Gurdwara Nankana Sahib and to visit other important Sikh shrines.

While the group she was with returned on Thursday night, she was not among them.

According to news agency PTI, immigration authorities in Pakistan have informed their Indian counterparts about the incident as Indian immigration authorities are working to obtain more details about Kaur and her family members from her village.

First Jatha after Operation Sindoor

The jatha that returned on Thursday after 10 days of pilgrimage to Nankana Sahib and visiting other historic gurdwaras was the first one following Operation Sindoor as India had imposed travel restrictions to Pakistan.

The Union government granted permission on October 2, two weeks after initially refusing it due to security concerns. Earlier, Sikhs were also barred from visiting Pakistan for Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s death anniversary in June.

Source : https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/punjab-woman-on-sikh-pilgrimage-in-pak-goes-missing-cops-share-update-101763176362296.html

An Indian Sikh pilgrim, Sarbjeet Kaur, who went missing during a visit to Pakistan on the occasion of Guru Nanak Jayanti, married a Pakistani national, claimed media reports. purported copy of the Nikahnama surfaced online. She is a resident of Punjab’s Kapurthala district. The reports claimed that she converted to Islam and married a man named Nasir Hussain.

Sarbjeet Kaur, an Indian Sikh pilgrim who went missing during a visit to Pakistan on the occasion of Guru Nanak Jayanti, reportedly married a Pakistani national. A purported copy of the Nikahnama surfaced online.

Kaur went missing from the group of devotees who had travelled to Pakistan on November 4 to celebrate the Parkash Purab (birth anniversary) of Guru Nanak Dev. She is a resident of Punjab’s Kapurthala district.

Kaur disappeared on November 13. Documents which surfaced online suggest that the Indian Sikh pilgrim has adopted Islam and married the Pakistani national, Nasir Hussain, reported News18.

She was part of a 1,923-member Sikh delegation led by Akal Takht Sahib’s Jathedar, Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj, that went to Pakistan via the Attari border in Amritsar under a bilateral agreement facilitating visits to religious shrines.

After spending 10 days visiting various gurudwaras in Pakistan, the group of 1,922 returned to India on Thursday evening. However, Kaur’s disappearance triggered major security concerns. Intelligence agencies in both India and Pakistan were trying to trace the missing Indian Sikh pilgrim.

On November 4, the Sikh pilgrims went to Nankana Sahib in Pakistan to celebrate Guru Nanak Dev Ji’s Prakash Parv. However, Pakistani officials reportedly denied 14 Hindus from Delhi and Lucknow from travelling with the Sikh group.

Source : https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/indian-sikh-pilgrim-sarbjeet-who-went-missing-in-pakistan-during-religious-visit-converts-to-islam-marries-local-man-nikahnama-surfaces-online

The blast, triggered during the handling of explosives seized in the Faridabad terror module case, ripped through Srinagar’s Nowgam Police Station on Friday night.

At least nine people were killed and over 30 injured after a massive explosion tore through the Nowgam Police Station in Jammu and Kashmir’s Srinagar late Friday night. The accidental blast occurred while officials were extracting samples from a large cache of explosives recently seized in the Faridabad terror module case, officials said on Saturday.

The blast reduced the police station to rubble and gutted several vehicles parked outside. Eyewitnesses and CCTV footage captured the explosion tearing through the building, sending flames and thick smoke billowing into the air.

According to sources, the death toll may rise as several of the injured are in critical condition and some people remain missing. Rescuers continued to comb through the rubble for those feared trapped. Investigators said body parts were found as far as 300 feet from the site, underscoring the scale of the blast.

ACCIDENTAL BLAST, SAYS TOP COP

While police maintained that the blast was triggered during the handling and sealing of the seized explosives in the presence of a magistrate, the PAFF, a shadow organisation linked to Jaish-e-Muhammad, has reportedly claimed responsibility for the incident.

However, J&K Director General of Police Nalin Prabhat said at a press conference that the explosion was accidental and dismissed other theories as “unnecessary speculation.”

“A huge quantity of explosive substances and chemicals were recovered from Faridabad. We transported the recovery to PS Nowgam. Due to the sensitive nature, handling was being done with utmost caution. However, last night an accidental explosion occurred. Any other speculation is unnecessary,” the DGP said.

During the press conference, the J&K top cop informed that a State Investigation Agency official, three Forensic Science Laboratory officials, two crime wing officials, two revenue officials and a tailor who was associated with the team were among those killed. The DGP also added that 27 police personnel, two revenue officials and three civilians have received injuries.

The explosion caused extensive damage to the police station building, which was “very severely” impacted, and several adjoining structures were also affected. Authorities are still assessing the full extent of the destruction, he added.

In a separate press briefing, Prashant Lokhande, Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Home Affairs, also echoed J&K DGP’s statement and said that the cause of the incident is being investigated and any other speculation into the cause of the blast was unnecessary.

Much of the 350 kg stock of explosives recovered in the terror module case had been stored inside the police station, where the primary FIR is registered.

SECURITY TIGHTENED; SENIOR OFFICIALS VISIT VICTIMS

Police teams searched Ruia’s residence and offices, as well as those of several of his associates, last Thursday after their names figured in an FIR registered in connection with a nationwide cyber fraud case, the officer said.

The cybercrime wing of West Bengal Police has busted a Rs 317-crore online fraud involving 148 shell companies and raided the home and offices of businessman Pawan Ruia for his alleged links to the racket, an officer said on Tuesday.

Police teams searched Ruia’s residence and offices, as well as those of several of his associates, last Thursday after their names figured in an FIR registered in connection with a nationwide cyber fraud case, the officer said.

“A meticulous investigation unveiled the direct involvement of a cyber fraud. Over 1,379 complainants across West Bengal and other parts of India were cheated of approximately Rs 317 crore,” police said in a statement on Monday.

“These funds were routed through numerous bank accounts of 148 shell companies, many of which shared the same registered address, and were subsequently siphoned off to various mule accounts,” it added.

Talking more about their investigation, the officer said, “Preliminary findings suggest that around Rs 170 crore of the diverted funds was converted into cryptocurrency in an attempt to prevent law enforcement from tracing or freezing the assets”.

A suo motu FIR was registered at Barrackpore Cyber Crime Police Station on November 5, the officer added.

“The FIR names Ruia, members of his family, and close associates, noting that 11 directors linked to Ruia-controlled entities also hold positions on the boards of 186 other companies across India,” the officer said.

Source : https://www.deccanherald.com/india/west-bengal/bengal-police-bust-rs-317-crore-cyber-fraud-racket-conduct-raids-at-businessman-pawan-ruias-premises-3793969

The findings, officials said, reveal a complex chain of fertilizer and ammonium nitrate purchases allegedly orchestrated by Dr Umar Un Nabi and his associates.

Investigators tracking the origins of the explosives used in Monday’s deadly blast near Delhi’s Red Fort have traced the procurement network to Basai Meo village in Haryana’s Nuh district and adjoining areas of Faridabad, Gurugram, and Saharanpur. The findings, officials said, reveal a complex chain of fertilizer and ammonium nitrate purchases allegedly orchestrated by Dr Umar Un Nabi and his associates from the Faridabad module over the past several months.

People familiar with the investigation said Umar and another suspect had posed as farmhouse owners while approaching fertilizer shops in Nuh, where they began purchasing NPK fertilizers in small quantities over the last three-four months. Senior officers said the module collectively raised ₹20 lakh to buy more than 26 quintals of NPK fertilizer and over 1,000kg of ammonium nitrate – materials powerful enough to make multiple bombs.

India’s Cabinet on Wednesday called this week’s deadly car explosion in the capital a terror attack carried out by “anti-national forces,” though it did not release any new evidence linked to the blast.

Earlier Wednesday, authorities said several suspects had been arrested in the disputed Kashmir region as part of the investigation into the blast Monday near the historic Red Fort monument that killed eight people and injured several others.

Authorities on Tuesday announced that they were investigating it as possible terrorism — a step that gives investigating authorities broader powers to arrest or detain people. But they have not publicly detailed their evidence.

The federal Cabinet of ministers, in a resolution passed late Wednesday, called the car explosion “a heinous terror incident, perpetrated by anti-national forces.” It provided no further details.

Red Fort, a major tourist attraction, is a 17th-century monument and the place where Indian prime ministers deliver Independence Day speeches on Aug. 15 each year. If confirmed as a deliberate attack, it would be the deadliest such blast in India’s capital since 2011.

At least five people were detained for questioning in a series of raids overnight in the Kashmir’s southern Pulwama district, police officials said Wednesday.

A suspected militant cell dismantled, and then the blast
Monday’s blast came hours after police in Indian-controlled Kashmir said they had dismantled a suspected militant cell operating from the disputed region to the outskirts of New Delhi. At least seven people, including two doctors, were arrested, and police seized weapons and a large quantity of bomb-making material in Faridabad, a city in Haryana state, which is near New Delhi.

Indian news outlets report the explosion could be linked to the same cell. Police have not commented, citing their ongoing investigation.

Four police officers in Kashmir familiar with the case said the investigation that led them to the cell began with a routine probe into anti-India posters that appeared in a neighborhood in the Kashmir city of Srinagar on Oct. 19. The posters threatened attacks on Indian troops stationed in Kashmir.

The officers, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the case, said CCTV footage helped identify suspects, initially leading to the arrest of at least three people.

Over the following three weeks, interrogations led to the detention of two Kashmiri doctors working in two Indian cities, as well as two other suspects from Kashmir, the officers said.

Local media reports suggest car’s driver was from Kashmir
Indian news outlets have reported that police are investigating whether another suspected member of the same cell, also a Kashmiri doctor teaching at a medical college in Faridabad, was driving the car that exploded. Police have not confirmed those reports, but Indian news outlets said the doctor may have either deliberately triggered the blast to avoid arrest or was transporting explosives that detonated accidentally.

Delhi police spokesman Sanjay Tyagi said investigators were probing “all possible angles, including a terror attack, an accidental blast or any kind of failure in the car.”

Shagufta Jan, the doctor’s sister-in-law in Kashmir’s Pulwama district, said the family had not heard from him since last Friday, when she told him police were looking for him.

“He called us on Friday, and I told him to come home. He said he would come after three days,” she said.

“That was the last time we spoke with him,” Jan said, adding that police came to their home Monday night and took in the doctor’s mother and two brothers for questioning.

The blast could raise tensions between India and Pakistan

The possible terrorism link in the blast has raised fears of renewed tensions between nuclear-armed rivals India and Pakistan. India often accuses Pakistan of backing attacks on its soil, saying they are carried out by groups based across the border.

In April, suspected militants killed 26 people, mostly Hindu tourists, in Indian-controlled Kashmir. New Delhi blamed Pakistan for the massacre, which Islamabad denied. It was followed by tit-for-tat military strikes by India and Pakistan, bringing the nuclear-armed rivals to the brink of their third war over the region.

Source: https://apnews.com/article/india-car-blast-red-fort-1ce382e2c514561759f464182d82d4e2

The injured man has been identified as 24-year-old Sonu Kumar, a resident of Gurugram, Haryana. He has been admitted to AIIMS Rishikesh and his condition is reportedly critical.

A terrifying incident has come to light from Uttarakhand’s Rishikesh, where an accident took place during adventure sports. A young man in Shivpuri was severely injured after falling from a height of 180-ft while bungee jumping.

The incident took place on Wednesday at the Thrill Factory Adventure Park on the Tapovan–Shivpuri Road, and CCTV footage of the event surfaced on Thursday and has since gone viral on social media. The injured man has been identified as 24-year-old Sonu Kumar, a resident of Gurugram, Haryana. He has been admitted to AIIMS Rishikesh and his condition is reportedly critical.

Police Statment

According to the police, Sonu had travelled to Shivpuri for adventure sports. He attempted bungee jumping, but the rope suddenly broke, causing him to fall from a height. He landed on a tin shed and was hospitalised. His condition is reported to be critical. Police say they have not yet received any complaints, and further action will be taken once a complaint is received.

A man on X (formerly Twitter) shared that his friend had visited Thrill Factory, Rishikesh, yesterday for bungee jumping, and that just seven minutes after their turn, the major accident took place.

The incident has raised concerns over safety protocols in adventure sports in India.

Source : https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/terrifying-youth-falls-from-180-ft-afterrope-breaks-during-bungee-jumping-in-rishikesh-video

Cristiano Ronaldo was sent off for the first time in his Portugal career in his side’s World Cup 2026 Qualifier against Ireland on Thursday. The Al Nassr star sarcastically applauded the Irish fans, who jeered and booed at him. Ronaldo faces the risk of missing Portugal’s FIFA World Cup 2026 opener should the ban be extended.

Cristiano Ronaldo was the centre of controversy in Portugal’s FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifiers on Thursday. The former Manchester United star was sent off for elbowing defender Dara O’Shea in the second half. It was the first ever red card in his international career for Ronaldo, who walked off sarcastically applauding the referee’s decision.

The Irish fans responded calling the Portugal legend a ‘cry baby’. The hosts jeered and booed in jubilation as the 40-year-old made his way off the field, making the ‘crying baby’ gesture. Incidentally, the Real Madrid legend had made the same gesture towards Nathan Collins, five minutes before he was sent off.

Ronaldo will serve a mandatory one-game ban imposed for any red card when Portugal hosts Armenia on Sunday. He confronted Irish head coach Heimir Hallgrimsson while walking off the field.

Ronaldo spun round and swung his right elbow into O’Shea’s back. The referee had initially given a yellow, only for VAR to intervene and convert it into a red. The 40-year-old walked off the field being jeered and mocked by Ireland fans. He paused to stop and looked at the fans, applauded them and raised two thumbs up in an apparent sarcastic gesture.

Ronaldo will miss Portugal’s final FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifier against Armenia as he serves a suspension. It is a must-win clash for the Nations League holders, with 3 points guaranteeing a World Cup 2026 spot.

Source : https://www.freepressjournal.in/sports/watch-cry-baby-cristiano-ronaldo-mocked-by-irish-fans-after-first-red-card-for-portugal-could-miss-world-cup-2026-opener

The Supreme Court of India has permitted Surendra Koli, the main suspect in the notorious Nithari serial killings, to file a curative petition, leading to his potential release after nearly 20 years in prison. Koli was initially convicted in 2011 but has since been acquitted in twelve other related cases due to insufficient evidence. The court criticised previous trials influenced by media pressure and acknowledged the inconsistencies in the evidence against Koli.

Nearly two decades after the horrific Nithari serial killings shook the nation, the Supreme Court of India has allowed the curative petition of Surendra Koli, the prime accused, paving the way for his release. The decision marks the final chapter in one of India’s most chilling criminal cases, one that began with the discovery of skeletal remains of several children behind a bungalow in Noida’s Nithari village in 2006.
Koli, who worked as a domestic help for businessman Moninder Singh Pandher, had been accused in multiple cases of rape and murder between 2005 and 2007. Over the years, he was convicted in one case and acquitted in twelve others. With the apex court now overturning his final conviction, Koli is set to walk free unless required in any other case.

Why the Supreme Court Freed Koli

A bench comprising Chief Justice B R Gavai and Justices Surya Kant and Vikram Nath delivered the judgment, allowing Koli’s curative plea against his 2011 conviction. The court observed that it would be a “travesty of justice” to uphold the lone conviction when Koli had already been acquitted in twelve other cases based on the same set of evidence.
The judges noted that Koli’s conviction in the remaining case rested solely on his confessional statement and the recovery of a kitchen knife from a lane behind his employer’s house, the very same evidence deemed insufficient in other trials. The Allahabad High Court, which had acquitted Koli in twelve cases and Pandher in two, had earlier ruled that recoveries made at the instance of the accused and their statements before the police were not admissible as evidence.

Chief Justice Gavai also lauded the Allahabad High Court for standing firm “against media pressure”, remarking that the original trial appeared to have been influenced by “media trial” and public outrage. “It is rather complimentary of the judges of the High Court for writing such a judgment. There must have been a lot of media pressure. The trial court, sorry to say, must have been swayed by it,” the Chief Justice observed during hearings.

In its final order, the bench said, “For the reasons recorded above, the curative petition is allowed. The petitioner shall be released forthwith, if not required in any other case or proceeding.”

The move is aimed at strengthening India’s energy security and supply chain security as the elements are highly used in the country, especially in the electric vehicle, electronic manufacturing and strategic sectors.

In a move aimed at boosting the domestic production of critical minerals and reduce import dependence, the central government approved the rationalisation of royalty rates of graphite, caesium, rubidium, and zirconium.
The decision was taken by the Cabinet under the Chairmanship of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The decision comes at a time when China, which holds the world monopoly in critical minerals production, is increasingly imposing export restrictions. India’s move to push domestic production will also cut down dependence on imports from Beijing.

This would be PM Narendra Modi’s fourth visit to South Africa. Since 2014, the PM has attended every G20 Summit, which India hosted in 2023.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to visit South Africa on November 21 to attend the G20 Summit, according to sources, which would be his fourth visit to the country.

PM Modi is likely to embark on a three-day visit to South Africa, starting from Johannesburg on November 21. The Indian Prime Minister has attended every G20 Summit since 2024.

South Africa, which assumed the year-long G20 Presidency on December 1, 2024, will host the Summit in Johannesburg from November 22 to 23, the first time the meeting of G20 leaders will be held on African soil. The US will take over the G20 Presidency from South Africa on December 1, 2025, and will chair the grouping until November 30, 2026.

India hosted the G20 Summit in 2023, which was marked by a historic diplomatic effort to achieve a consensus over the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war in the New Delhi Declaration and the inclusion of the African Union (AU) in the bloc. India handed over the G20 Presidency to Brazil on December 1, 2023.

The G20 comprises 19 countries: Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkiye, the UK, and the US as well as the European Union and the African Union.

Trump Not To Attend G20 Summit In South Africa

Reports of Prime Minister Modi’s visit to South Africa came after US President Donald Trump said no American official would attend the multilateral event, calling it a “disgrace” over “human rights abuses” against the ethnic minority group of Afrikaners in the country.

“I am not going. We have a G20 meeting in South Africa. South Africa shouldn’t even be in the Gs anymore because what’s happened there is bad. I’m not going. I told them I’m not going. I’m not going to represent our country there. It shouldn’t be there,” Trump said while addressing the America Business Forum Miami in Florida earlier this month.

The Trump administration has long accused the South African government of allowing minority white Afrikaner farmers to be persecuted and attacked. As it restricted the number of refugees admitted annually to the US to 7,500, the administration indicated that most would be white South Africans, who it claimed faced discrimination and violence at home.

Source : https://www.news18.com/india/pm-modi-likely-to-visit-south-africa-for-g20-summit-next-week-9703096.html

According to Delhi Police, the fire brigade received a call at 4 pm on Wednesday about a bomb being found at Delhi Airport Terminal 3.

A bomb threat email received on IndiGo’s grievance portal on Wednesday triggered security checks at Delhi Airport’s Terminal 3, but later turned out to be a hoax. The email, which also mentioned several other airports, including Delhi, Chennai, and Goa, prompted an immediate response from security agencies, and precautionary checks were conducted at all the locations.

According to Delhi Police, the fire brigade received a call at 4 pm on Wednesday about a bomb being found at Delhi Airport Terminal 3. However, after investigating the scene, it was determined to be a hoax. The email was received on IndiGo’s grievance portal. It mentioned several other airports, including Delhi, Chennai, and Goa. Following the information, precautionary checks have been conducted at all locations.

Following the recent car blast in Delhi, which claimed several lives and left many injured, security has been placed on high alert across the city.

Meanwhile, two days after the blast near the Red Fort, a link of a “white-collar terror network” has surfaced in the preliminary investigation, with the probe agencies finding links of the terror incident with Pakistan-based outfits Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) and Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind (AGH).

The network, which allegedly involved doctors and clerics, was dismantled following a series of coordinated operations between October 19 and November 10, 2025, resulting in the recovery of 2,921 kilograms of explosives and many arrests.

The investigation, now being handled by the National Investigation Agency (NIA), began after a joint operation by the Jammu and Kashmir Police and Haryana Police exposed an elaborate inter-state nexus spanning educational, medical, and religious institutions.

The crackdown began on October 19, when objectionable JeM posters were found in the Nowgam area of Kashmir, prompting an FIR and a wider investigation. The next day, three suspects — Arif Nisar, Yasir-ul-Ashraf, and Maqsood — were arrested and taken to the Nowgam Police Station area.

On October 27, security forces apprehended Maulvi Irfan Ahmed Wage from Shopian and Zameer Ahmed from Wakura, Ganderbal, recovering a pistol and ammunition from their possession.

The probe soon expanded beyond Jammu and Kashmir. On October 30, Dr Muzamil, a faculty member at Al-Falah Medical College in Faridabad, was arrested, followed by the November 5 arrest of Dr Adeel from Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh.

Subsequent searches at Anantnag Hospital on November 7 led to the seizure of an AK-56 rifle and other ammunition, while a day later, a raid at Al-Falah Medical College yielded additional rifles, pistols, and gunpowder.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/bomb-threat-hoax-at-airport-terminal-3-delhi-police-9625270

Red EcoSport car owned by Delhi blast suspect was found parked in Haryana after cops launched massive hunt this afternoon. The car with DL10CK0458 plate was registered in the name of Umar Un Nabi at Rajouri Garden RTO on 22 November 2017.

The Red Ford EcoSport owned by Delhi blast suspect Dr Umar Un Nabi was found parked near Haryana’s Khandawali village hours after cops launched a massive hunt for the vehicle on Wednesday, officials said. The car was found parked outside a Khandawali house which belongs to Dr Umar, they added.

After the seizure, the car was cordoned off and a team of experts was called to investigate the vehicle. It is suspected that the vehicle may be carrying weapons or explosives.

The red Ford EcoSport bears the registration number DL10CK0458 and is registered to Umar Un Nabi, also known as Dr Umar Mohammad, who was listed as the second owner of the vehicle.

The car was registered at the Rajouri Garden RTO in Delhi on November 22, 2017. Investigations have revealed that Umar used a fake address in Northeast Delhi to purchase the vehicle, prompting police to raid that location late at night, sources told India Today.

Authorities believe that the suspects used the EcoSport as a secondary vehicle in the operation, following the explosion of a white Hyundai i20, which was found destroyed near the blast site.

Intelligence agencies had warned that the red EcoSport could be carrying crucial evidence or even explosives. According to the sources, investigating agencies suspect that Dr Umar and his team used a red EcoSport car to transport and stockpile ammonium nitrate over time.

In response, all law enforcement units were instructed to intercept any red Ford EcoSport, with particular attention to the one bearing DL10CK0458.

Police on patrol and picket duty were also ordered to remain fully armed and vigilant, ready to act immediately upon spotting the vehicle.

The Delhi Police, in coordination with central security agencies, scanned CCTV footage, toll booth records, and mobile tower data to trace the car’s movements.

Umar is described as the most radicalised member of the module and the key link between all the doctors. Following the arrests of a Nowgam cleric and Muzamil, Dr Umar reportedly switched off his phones and severed all digital communications.

The module had conducted multiple reconnaissance operations and, according to sources, was planning a series of serial blasts, awaiting final instructions from its handler when the network was dismantled.

Dr Umar is believed to be the man driving the white Hyundai i20 that exploded near the 17th century monument. Investigative agencies have already collected DNA samples from the members of his family, which are being compared with evidence from the blast site to confirm the driver’s identity.

FAKE ADDRESS USED TO BUY CAR

Al-Falah Group, which manages various institutions since the year 1997, became autonomous in the year 2009 and a University in 2014. It is recognised by the University Grants Commission and has managed its medical college since 2019. Its 76-acre campus is located in the Muslim-majority Dhauj village in Faridabad district.

In its first reaction on the terror module busted in Faridabad and Delhi Red Fort blast, the Al-Falah University, located in Haryana’s Faridabad district, on Wednesday distanced itself from the two doctors arrested in the case and said that it has no connection to them “apart from them being working in their official capacities with the university’’.

Al-Falah Group, which manages various institutions since the year 1997, became autonomous in the year 2009 and a University in 2014. It is recognised by the University Grants Commission and has managed its medical college since 2019. Its 76-acre campus is located in the Muslim-majority Dhauj village in Faridabad district.

Stating that the varsity is extending full cooperation to the investigating agencies probing the cases mentioned above, the university Vice-Chancellor Prof (Dr) Bhupinder Kaur Anand, in her statement (copy with FPJ) said “we are deeply saddened and anguished by the unfortunate developments that took place and condemn the same…. We have also learnt that two of our doctors have been detained by the Investigating Agencies’’.

“We wish to make it clear that the University has no connection with the said persons apart from them being working in their official capacities with the University’’, she said.

Prof Anand’s statement further clarified that “no such chemical or material, as is being alleged by certain platforms, is being used, stored, or handled within the University premises. The University laboratories are used solely and exclusively for the academic and training requirements of MBBS students and other authorised courses’’.

Source : https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/white-collar-terror-ring-no-connection-with-terrorist-docs-says-al-falah-university

A senior UP Police officer, speaking on condition of anonymity, said, “We had been receiving such inputs earlier, which is why vigilance in the state was already heightened. Lucknow was the prime target, but several other cities were also on the radar.”

The blast that shook Delhi earlier this week was never meant to happen there — it was first planned for Uttar Pradesh. Inputs from the Jammu and Kashmir Police and Gujarat ATS suggest that the terror module behind the explosion had initially chosen Lucknow and other major UP cities as targets before changing plans at the last moment. The revelation has triggered a statewide alert, with security agencies intensifying surveillance across the state.

A senior UP Police officer, speaking on condition of anonymity, said, “We had been receiving such inputs earlier, which is why vigilance in the state was already heightened. Lucknow was the prime target, but several other cities were also on the radar.”

Officials said two separate terror modules had been uncovered in recent weeks — one dismantled by Gujarat ATS and another by Jammu and Kashmir Police. “It appears that after their modules were busted, the operatives altered their plans and carried out the attack in Delhi,” the officer added.

Investigators believe the shift in plan came after the arrest of Dr. Adil from Faridabad and the recovery of nearly 2,900 kg of explosives. “Members of the same network were moving toward UP. It cannot be ruled out that the explosion near Delhi’s Red Fort could have taken place in any city of Uttar Pradesh,” the officer said.

The terror outfit was reportedly looking for recruits familiar with the terrain of UP who could move without relying on mobile phones. Two such men — Azad Suleman Sheikh from Shamli and Mohammad Suhail from Lakhimpur — were identified and later arrested by Gujarat ATS before they could execute any plan.

Last month, Jammu and Kashmir Police had warned that some suspects might attempt to use Tablighi Jamaat activities as a cover for terror operations. Acting on that alert, the UP Police had ordered discreet surveillance of Tablighi Jamaat members and directed district officials to restrict their movement. The DGP Headquarters issued verbal instructions that anyone traveling to or organizing such congregations be kept under watch.

Over half a dozen people, most from western UP, have been detained so far for questioning, an ATS officer confirmed. Some arrests were made based on Gujarat ATS inputs, while others followed leads from Jammu and Kashmir Police.

The UP ATS is also set to interrogate Dr. Shaheen Shahid of Lucknow, who was arrested from Faridabad on November 10. A team has already left for Jammu and Kashmir to gather more details about her UP connections.

Source : https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/delhi-blast-was-originally-planned-for-uttar-pradesh-reveal-police-sources

India’s young, tech-savvy population has already made it a leading country in AI adoption. When setting rules for artificial intelligence, New Delhi is taking a different approach compared to the EU, China and the US.

India unveiled a set of artificial intelligence (AI) guidelines last week, outlining how it wants to regulate and promote the technology.

The move comes as New Delhi prepares to host a major AI summit at the start of 2026.

The guidelines advocate using existing legal frameworks — like the Information Technology Act and the Digital Personal Data Protection Act — to handle emerging risks such as deepfakes and unauthorized data use.

“India’s AI governance adopts a balanced, agile and flexible approach that promotes innovation and safety,” Amal Mohanty, AI policy expert and one of the lead authors of the guidelines, told DW.

He said India’s approach is different to the rules charted by the EU, China and the US.

“Unlike the EU’s detailed AI Act that imposes strict, rule-based obligations based on risk classification, ours favors self-regulation and voluntary measures,” he said. “This allows developers more freedom to innovate while managing AI risks responsibly.”

Rapid pace of AI adoption in India

India ranks among the global leaders in AI adoption and innovation, mainly due to its youthful, tech-savvy population.

Millions of workers and consumers in the world’s most populous country are embracing the technology at an unprecedented rate.

From health care and agriculture to fintech and public services, AI is becoming a central part of digital growth.

A recent report by Boston Consulting Group states that 92% of employees involved in customer service, operations and production activities in India are already using AI at work, the highest rate in the Asia-Pacific region and well above the global average of 72%.

“We are still in the early stages of the AI lifecycle. It is like the dial-up internet era of AI. I strongly believe now is not the time to set roadblocks in front of AI innovation,” Paul Emmanuel, founder and CEO of Two Minute Reports, told DW.

Emmanuel’s company, which is involved in design and development of AI-driven data analytics and reporting tools for marketers, said the focus should be on widespread public awareness, education and upskilling to ensure vulnerable groups are not blindsided by AI advancement.

“The Indian government’s light-touch approach is going to help local businesses compete better globally. More importantly, it helps build the talent and technological know-how to be ready for future demands and challenges of AI,” said Emmanuel.

Working within existing laws

But Urvashi Aneja, founder and executive director of Digital Futures Lab, a research and advisory firm, pointed out that the guidelines do not flesh out how India’s AI objectives will be achieved.

“For example, how is data usability and sharing going to be enhanced? Improving access to public sector data to spur innovation has been a long-standing goal but data quality continues to be poor,” she told DW.

Aneja also said there is a patchy understanding of the risks involved.

“This narrow view on AI risks mean the guidelines are silent on issues such as labor displacement, psychological and environmental harms. Equally glaring is the absence of any discussion on market concentration,” she underlined.

A core element of the guidelines is the “Do No Harm” principle, which officials hope will manage AI risks effectively without stifling technological growth.

Another important point is content authentication to help distinguish authentic content from AI-produced or modified material.

The government has already proposed amendments to existing IT rules that require social media platforms like YouTube and Instagram to visibly label AI-generated or synthetically modified content. Visual labels are to cover at least 10% of the display area, while audio content must include audible labels for at least 10% of the duration.

These measures aim to enhance transparency and help users distinguish authentic from AI-manipulated content, making them less susceptible to misinformation and deepfakes.

What makes India different on AI?

Yash Shah, co-founder and CEO of Momentum91, a custom software development company, said the new AI guidelines take a very “India first” route. He described the rules as practical, flexible and built for a country where innovation often outpaces infrastructure.

“Think of the EU approach as airport security. It is meticulous, mandatory, and sometimes painfully slow. India’s approach is more like metro security. It is efficient, situational, and designed to keep people moving,” Shah told DW.

“For example, a fintech startup in Bengaluru can deploy an AI underwriting model faster under India’s voluntary safeguards than it could under the EU’s mandatory risk classification system,” he added.

“Similarly, an edtech company experimenting with personalized learning tools doesn’t have to wrestle with multi-layer compliance before even testing its product,” said Shah, explaining why the framework is simply better suited to India’s scale and complexity.

Overall, the current framework advocates governing AI applications specifically, not the technology itself.

It also stands in contrast with China’s technology-specific rules and the US’ evolving, more fragmented policies.

Source : https://www.dw.com/en/india-charts-its-own-course-on-ai-regulation/a-74702266

Following a deadly car blast in Delhi, security measures were tightened in Uttar Pradesh, with anti-terror agencies conducting raids linked to a terror module associated with Jaish-e-Mohammed. Dr. Shaheen Sayeed, a doctor with ties to a newly formed women’s group by JeM, was arrested, leading to further investigations across multiple states.

Security was tightened across Uttar Pradesh on Tuesday following the deadly car blast near Delhi’s Red Fort that killed at least 12 people and injured more than 20. In Lucknow, anti-terror agencies raided the home of Dr Shaheen Sayeed – a woman doctor arrested in connection with the Faridabad explosives case that exposed a “white-collar” terror module linked to the banned Jaish-e-Mohammed.
A joint team of the Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS), Lucknow Police, and central agencies searched Sayeed’s residence in Muttaqipur locality, seizing documents and questioning family members and neighbours as part of an expanding counter-terror probe.
Eight people, including three doctors, were arrested on Monday, and 2,900 kg of explosives were seized in Faridabad during a 15-day operation spanning Kashmir, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh. Among those held was Sayeed, who hails from Lucknow and was associated with Al-Falah University in Faridabad.

Meanwhile, Dr Sayeed’s family denied any knowledge of her alleged role.

Delhi blast terror suspects Dr Umar and Dr Muzammil had recced Red Fort twice since January, sources said on Wednesday.

Delhi blast terror suspects Dr Umar and Dr Muzammil had recced Red Fort twice since January, and the plan was to carry out a major terror attack on January 26, sources said on Wednesday.
According to sources, terror suspect Dr Muzammil, who was arrested after JeM’s multiple state terror module was busted, revealed this to investigators while being grilled after the powerful blast at Red Fort killed at least 12 people on Monday.
Muzammil was being interrogated based on data recovered from his phone. In a major revelation, he told agencies that the plan was to execute a large-scale attack, and the recce of these areas was part of that conspiracy.

The Gaganyaan parachute system is a complex sequence designed for ultimate redundancy and safety

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has achieved a critical safety milestone for the Gaganyaan mission, successfully completing a key Integrated Main Parachute Airdrop Test (IMAT) for the Crew Module’s deceleration system. This successful qualification test, conducted at the Babina Field Firing Range (BFFR) in Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh, on November 3, 2025, is a major step towards ensuring the safe return of Indian astronauts (Vyomanauts).

Testing for Extreme Scenarios

The Hongqi Bridge, part of a major national highway linking China’s heartland with Tibet, gave way on Tuesday afternoon following a series of landslides in the area.

A dramatic video from southwest China’s Sichuan province shows the moment the newly opened Hongqi Bridge collapsed, sending a large section of the structure plunging into the river below. The bridge, part of a major national highway linking China’s heartland with Tibet, gave way on Tuesday afternoon following a series of landslides in the area. Fortunately, no casualties have been reported so far.

The incident took place near the Shuangjiangkou Hydropower Station in Maerkang city. Videos circulating widely on Chinese social media captured the hillside beginning to crumble, releasing thick clouds of dust and debris. Within moments, the ground beneath the bridge shifted, causing its support pillars to tilt before the span collapsed into the river in a dramatic cascade of concrete and steel.

Authorities had reportedly closed the 758-metre-long bridge to traffic a day earlier after detecting cracks in nearby slopes and roads, along with signs of ground movement. Officials cited potential geological hazards and had halted all movement across the bridge as a safety precaution. These early warnings are believed to have prevented any loss of life.

According to local authorities, initial assessments indicate that the collapse was caused by geological instability and a series of landslides on the steep mountain slopes surrounding the bridge. Emergency and rescue teams have been deployed to the site to assess the extent of damage, stabilise the terrain, and ensure safety in the region.

Source : https://www.news18.com/india/chinas-hongqi-bridge-linking-sichuan-tibet-collapses-days-after-opening-watch-9700459.html

PM Modi met His Majesty Jigme Singye Wangchuck in Bhutan, joined Global Peace Prayer Festival and inaugurated Punatsangchhu-II Hydroelectric Project.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Jigme Singye Wangchuck, the Fourth King of Bhutan, during his two-day state visit to the Himalayan kingdom- a visit that reaffirmed the enduring strength of the India–Bhutan partnership. The meeting took place amid celebrations of the Fourth King’s 70th birth anniversary and the ongoing Global Peace Prayer Festival in Thimphu.

Extending warm greetings on behalf of the Government and people of India, PM Modi wished the Fourth King good health and long life. He thanked him for his “leadership, counsel, and guidance” in nurturing the close bonds between the two neighbours. The leaders discussed key areas of cooperation and highlighted the shared spiritual, cultural and historical ties that continue to shape relations between India and Bhutan.

PM Modi Joins Global Peace Prayer Festival

PM Modi joined Bhutan’s King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, the Fourth King and Prime Minister Dasho Tshering Tobgay at the Kalachakra initiation ceremony at Thimphu’s Changlimithang Stadium, part of the Global Peace Prayer Festival. The ceremony was presided over by Je Khenpo, Bhutan’s Chief Abbot.

Bhutan’s King expressed appreciation for the presence of the Holy Piprahwa Relics of Lord Buddha from India, brought to Bhutan for public veneration during the festival- a gesture reflecting the deep spiritual connection between the two countries.

India–Bhutan Hydropower Partnership Strengthened

In a major milestone for bilateral cooperation, PM Modi and Bhutan’s King jointly inaugurated the 1,020 MW Punatsangchhu-II Hydroelectric Project, marking the start of electricity exports from Bhutan to India. The two leaders also agreed to resume work on the 1,200 MW Punatsangchhu-I project, which will become Bhutan’s largest hydroelectric venture once completed.

India has extended a ₹40 billion concessional line of credit to support Bhutan’s energy initiatives and welcomed greater participation of Indian companies in the hydropower sector. Both sides expressed satisfaction over progress under the Joint Vision on Energy Partnership, signed in 2024.

Source : https://www.news18.com/india/pm-modi-meets-fourth-king-of-bhutan-joins-global-peace-prayer-festival-in-thimphu-ws-l-9700781.html

Cybercriminals used forged documents and impersonation to extort Rs 99 lakh from a Pune retiree. The scam highlights rising threats exploiting public trust in government agencies.

Cybercriminals forged the signature of Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on a fabricated arrest warrant to deceive a 62-year-old retired LIC officer from Pune and extort nearly Rs 99 lakh from her in a “digital arrest” scam.

According to the Pune City Cyber Police, the fraud began in the last week of October when the woman, a resident of Kothrud, received a call from a man claiming to represent a “Data Protection Agency.” He alleged that her Aadhaar-linked mobile number had been misused for fraudulent transactions.

She was then connected to another person who introduced himself as a senior police officer named George Mathew. During a video call, the impersonator accused her of money laundering and warned that her bank accounts would be frozen. To reinforce the threat, the scammers sent her a forged arrest warrant carrying Sitharaman’s fake signature and what appeared to be an official government seal.

The woman was told that due to her age she would be placed under “digital arrest”, meaning she would be monitored remotely, and was instructed to transfer all her funds to Reserve Bank of India (RBI) accounts for verification. Believing the claim, she transferred 99 lakh to multiple accounts later found to be controlled by a cybercrime network based in Thane.

To sustain the deception, the fraudsters shared additional fabricated documents, including a fake receipt purportedly from the Enforcement Directorate (ED). When the woman later tried to reach the callers, the numbers were switched off. She then realised she had been defrauded and lodged a complaint with the Pune City Cyber Police.

Investigators have begun tracing the bank accounts and phone numbers used in the fraud. Officials said scammers increasingly misuse names of real and fictitious government agencies, such as the Data Protection Board of India (DPBI) and the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), to create credibility.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/scammers-forge-nirmala-sitharamans-signature-dupe-pune-woman-of-rs-99-lakh-2817879-2025-11-12

These findings were submitted to a local court in Andhra Pradesh after an accused was arrested.

The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the ghee adulteration case has found that the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) received supplies of adulterated ghee for over five years.

According to sources, Pomil Jain and Vipin Jain, Directors of M/s Bhole Baba Organic Dairy Milk Private Limited, who were arrested by the CBI in February, produced adulterated ghee at their plant in Bhagwanpur, near Roorkee in Uttarakhand.

The probe revealed that instead of cow ghee, the accused used adulterants such as palm oil, palm kernel oil, and palmolein, sourced from Buge Budge Company in Kolkata.

These substances were blended with a small quantity of pure ghee and mixed with chemicals like beta-carotene, acetic acid ester, and synthetic ghee flavour to pass laboratory tests and retain aroma.

These findings were submitted to a local court in Andhra Pradesh after an accused was arrested.

As part of their plan, Pomil and Vipin Jain supplied the adulterated ghee to the TTD through Bhole Baba Organic Dairy Milk Pvt Ltd and other firms, including M/s Sri Vyshnavi Dairy Specialties Pvt Ltd near Srikalahasti, M/s Malganga Milk and Agro Products Pvt Ltd near Pune, and M/s AR Dairy Foods Pvt Ltd in Dindigul, Tamil Nadu.

Together, these firms supplied around 60,37,351 kg of ghee worth approximately Rs 240 crore between 2019 and 2024.

Cow ghee is a key ingredient in preparing the Tirumala laddus and other prasadams, and the average daily requirement is about 15,000 kg.

No action by TTD

The SIT has also found that test reports from the Central Food Technological Research Institute (CFTRI), Mysuru, in August 2022, clearly confirmed adulteration with vegetable oil.

However, despite these findings being communicated to then TTD Chairman Y V Subba Reddy, no action was initiated against the suppliers. The CBI, in its remand report, noted that the same companies continued supplying ghee to TTD until 2024, with Bhole Baba Organic Dairy Milk Pvt Ltd supplying until October 2022.

Source : https://www.deccanherald.com/india/andhra-pradesh/ttd-received-adulterated-ghee-for-over-5-years-sit-2-3793624

Relations between New Delhi and Washington have been reeling under severe stress after Trump imposed 50 per cent tariffs on India, including 25 per cent for its purchases of Russian oil.

The US has a “fantastic” relationship with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, President Donald Trump said, as he underlined that India is an “important” economic and strategic security partner in the Indo-Pacific region.

“We have a fantastic relationship with the Prime Minister, (Narendra) Modi, and Sergio (Gor) has only enhanced that because he’s become already friendly with the Prime Minister,” Trump said in remarks during Gor’s swearing-in ceremony as US Ambassador to India in the Oval Office Monday. “Knowing that Sergio is going to be the Ambassador, they would call constantly to say, ‘let’s get to know this man’, and they like what they see,” Trump said.

US Vice President J D Vance administered the oath of office to Gor at a special ceremony in the Oval Office. Trump presided over the ceremony that was attended by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, US Attorney General Pam Bondi, United States Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro as well as Senator Lindsey Graham and widow of political activist Charlie Kirk, Erika Kirk, among other officials and lawmakers.

Trump said that Gor is going to have “great success” in India, as he described the bilateral relationship between India and the US as “very important.” Trump said India has the fastest-growing middle class and is an “important economic and strategic security partner in the Indo-Pacific region.

“It’s an amazing country, actually, 1.5 billion people. China has 1.4 billion. Those are two big countries. As Ambassador, Sergio will work to fortify our country’s bond, promote investments in key US industries and technologies, increase American energy exports and expand our security cooperation,” Trump said.

The US Senate had in October confirmed Gor to serve as the United States’ next ambassador to India. In August, Trump had promoted Gor, Director of Presidential Personnel, to be the next US Ambassador to India and Special Envoy for South and Central Asian Affairs.

Trump said that in his role as Special Envoy for South and Central Asia, Gor will be a “key emissary to a very important group of nations at the crossroads between East and West.” Trump noted that last week, he was “honoured” to host leaders of the five central Asian countries in the White House.

Trump had hosted the leaders of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan at the White House.

“We had an amazing meeting the other night at the White House, and I’m confident that Sergio will do an outstanding job and make our country and all of his friends very proud. But I’m very proud of Sergio. I’ve known him for a long time, and he’s a great guy, and most people love him,” Trump said. “Some people don’t like him so much. I’ll be honest with you, Sergio,” Trump said amid laughter from the attendees.

“Some people, when they don’t like Sergio, they don’t like him, but when they like him, they like him more than anybody. But most of them really are the like category. And I just want to say that I think he’s going to be an outstanding representative for the United States of America. And it’s a big deal. Being the Ambassador to India is a big deal. So Sergio, congratulations. I know you’re going to do a fantastic job,” Trump said.

Source : https://www.deccanherald.com/india/us-has-fantastic-relationship-with-pm-modi-donald-trump-3793812

The vehicle was initially registered in Haryana under the name Nadeem and was later sold to a man from Jammu and Kashmir’s Pulwama identified as Tariq. There are also reports that the car was purchased using fake documents.

In a major development in the investigations into the Red Fort blast in Delhi, it has been revealed that the Hyundai i20 car that exploded was sold to a Pulwama resident living in Faridabad allegedly on fake documents. Authorities are now probing the ownership trail of the Hyundai i20 car that is believed to be the source of the explosion.

According to a report by India Today, the vehicle was initially registered in Haryana under the name Nadeem and was later sold to a man from Jammu and Kashmir’s Pulwama identified as Tariq. There are also reports that the car was purchased using fake documents.

As per reports, the investigation into the Red Fort blast has revealed that the Hyundai i20 car involved was first owned by Md. Salman which was later sold to Nadeem and then passed to a used car dealer named Royal Car Zone in Faridabad, from where it was purchased by Tariq, who is a resident of Faridabad originally from Jammu and Kashmir’s Pulwama.

There may be links between Tariq and Dr. Muzzamil Shakeel, who is another Pulwama native arrested in Faridabad earlier from whom 2,900 kg of IED-making material was seized.

The blast which occurred on Monday evening near the Red Fort Metro Station killed eight people and injured over 20 others. The explosion took place at the Subhash Marg traffic signal when the i20 reportedly stopped at a red light and suddenly detonated, causing nearby vehicles to catch fire.

Preliminary reports suggest that the car was last tracked in Faridabad on September 20, based on toll and CCTV data as a challan was issued for wrong parking. Authorities are now examining digital evidence to determine the route the car took before reaching Delhi.

Fake Document Angle

As per reports, officials have not ruled out the possibility that forged identity papers and registration details were used in the sale of the vehicle.

Teams from the National Investigation Agency (NIA), National Security Guard (NSG), Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) and Delhi Police Crime Branch continue to analyse forensic samples from the blast site. They are also working on chemical analysis reports to confirm the nature of the explosive used.

A senior Delhi Police official said, “We are following the ownership trail and verifying every document linked to the vehicle. Details of the last few transactions are under scrutiny. The possibility of fake documents being used cannot be ruled out.”

The explosion occurred at around 6:52 p.m. on Monday and was powerful enough to damage 22 nearby vehicles, including an e-rickshaw. The injured were rushed to LNJP Hospital and a high alert was issued in Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra as a precautionary measure.

Source : https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/delhi-blast-hyundai-i20-that-exploded-near-red-fort-was-sold-to-pulwama-resident-in-faridabad-using-fake-documents

Delhi Police launched a major crackdown detaining 260 African nationals for visa violations and unlawful activities under Operation Clean Sweep. This extensive drive targets illegal foreign residents and negligent landlords to restore law and order in the capital.

In a sweeping crackdown that sent shockwaves across several Delhi neighbourhoods, the city police detained 260 African nationals, many allegedly living without valid visas or engaged in unlawful activities, under “Operation Clean Sweep”.

Conducted simultaneously across Dwarka, West and Outer districts, the large-scale operation marks one of the most extensive drives in recent years against illegal foreign residents in the capital.

COORDINATED RAIDS ACROSS WESTERN RANGE

The meticulously coordinated raids were carried out by 31 police teams involving over 600 personnel, including four ACPs and 20 inspectors. Teams fanned out across targeted localities in the Western Range, rounding up individuals suspected of overstaying their visas or engaging in illegal trade and other unauthorised activity.

Preliminary verification revealed that 183 of those detained had overstayed their visas, while 48 of them were women. Among those caught, one foreign national was found in possession of drugs and another was wanted under a Non-Bailable Warrant (NBW). Both have been arrested separately and will face criminal charges.

DEPORTATION AND LEGAL ACTION UNDERWAY

Police said deportation proceedings have already begun for 175 of the detained people, in coordination with the Foreigner Regional Registration Office (FRRO) and the concerned embassies. So far, 26 cases have been registered, and the process of document verification continues.

Authorities also identified 25 local landlords who had rented out properties to foreign nationals without proper verification or mandatory documentation. Legal action is being initiated against them, police confirmed.

WARNING TO LANDLORDS: VERIFY OR FACE ACTION

Following the operation, Delhi Police issued a stern advisory to landlords, instructing them to submit tenant verification details through Form-II as mandated under local laws. Officials warned that non-compliance would invite strict penal action.

A senior police officer involved in the operation said the crackdown is part of an ongoing effort to restore law and order and curb unauthorised residency. “This is not a one-off exercise. Operation Clean Sweep will continue regularly across Delhi’s districts to ensure compliance and public safety,” the officer added.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/operation-clean-sweep-260-africans-detained-in-major-delhi-police-crackdown-2817104-2025-11-11

Final Phase Assembly Elections Updates:

Preparations are in full swing for the second and final phase of the Bihar Assembly elections, where 3.7 crore voters will decide the fate of 1,302 candidates, including 136 women and one third-gender candidate, across 122 constituencies today. Voting began at 7:00 am and will continue till 5:00 pm across 20 districts.

This phase is crucial for Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s cabinet, as 12 ministers from his government are in the race. Among JD(U) candidates are Vijendra Yadav (Supaul), Lesi Singh (Dhamdaha), Jayant Kushwaha (Amarpur), Sumit Singh (Chakai), Mohammad Jama Khan (Chainpur), and Sheela Mandal (Phoolparas).

Ministers from the BJP in the race include Prem Kumar (Gaya), Renu Devi (Bettiah), Vijay Kumar Mandal (Sikati), Nitish Mishra (Jhanjharpur), Neeraj Bablu (Chhatapur), and Krishnanandan Paswan (Harsiddhi).

At least eight people were killed, 20 others were injured and several vehicles were gutted in the explosion on Monday night.

As probe into the shocking blast near Red Fort in New Delhi deepens, a fresh pic has emerged, showing a masked man driving the Hyundai i20 car minutes before an explosion ripped through the vehicle.

The new visuals are from a parking lot and show a man wearing a black mask driving Hyundai i20 with number plate HR26CE7674.

Follow live updates on the blast near Red Fort here.

At least eight people were killed, 20 others were injured and several vehicles were gutted in the explosion that took place near Red Fort at around 6:52 pm on Monday, when the streets were bustling with crowds.

According to news agency ANI, cops have obtained CCTV footage showing the suspect’s car entering and exiting the parking lot, and it indicates that the suspect was alone at the time.

“Investigators are now tracing the route towards Daryaganj, while more than 100 CCTV clips, including footage from nearby toll plazas, are being examined to establish the complete movement of the vehicle,” the agency quoted sources.

It was earlier reported that a CCTV clip helped investigators trace the Hyundai car’s trip before the high-intensity blast. As per the clip, the vehicle reached near Sunehri Masjid through the Daryaganj market area around 4 pm, nearly three hours before the blast.

“It was being driven on the Chhata Rail Chow before taking a U-turn and moving towards Lower Subash Marg. The CCTV footage shows that the car was approaching a signal and had slowed down when the explosion occurred,” an official said.

What led to the explosion?

A high-intensity explosion tore through a Hyundai i20 car on Netaji Subhash Marg near a traffic signal on Monday evening, close to the Lal Quila metro station.

The incident has far led to eight deaths and over 20 injuries, triggering panic across the city.

Cops are still trying to find out what led to the explosion and forensic team was seen collecting samples from the explosion site early in the morning on Tuesday.

An officer has said that investigators are exploring whether the blast was caused by an explosive device that detonated accidentally during transport. While it was initially suspected that it may have been a CNG cylinder, an officer has said that doesn’t appear to be the case.

The officer also suggested the use of ammonia gel or a similar explosive, but there is no official confirmation on the cause yet.

Source : https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/red-fort-new-delhi-blast-explosion-hyundai-i20-seen-cctv-new-pic-probe-masked-driver-101762825584656.html

In the video, MS Dhoni can be seen admiring the red Royal Enfield before signing on the petrol tank.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni is more than just a name. He is an emotion. Our ‘Captain Cool’. Agree? The man who took Indian cricket to new heights. Oh, and not to forget his love for cars and bikes. He has often been spotted riding some of the coolest and vintage vehicles. His garage at the Ranchi home is every auto fan’s dream. Now, the former India captain just made a man’s day by singing his Royal Enfield Interceptor 650. The price of the swanky model is Rs 3.32 Lakh.

In the video, Dhoni can be seen admiring the red Royal Enfield before signing on the petrol tank. Wait, here is the best part. Before walking away, he asked the fan, “Chala ke report dena (Do share its review).”

Fans React To MS Dhoni Signing Royal Enfield Video

The video became an instant hit, and it has clocked over 52 million views. Not just that, MS Dhoni has also reacted to the clip. In the comments, he wrote, “Ride With Mahi?”

Fans too dropped their excitement. A user said, “How lucky.”

Talking about the value of MS Dhoni’s signature, a person said, “Bike has become from Rs 3 Lakh to Rs 30 crore.”

“The grace in bike = The Boys,” a user said.

MS Dhoni’s salt and pepper look also made a lot of noise on social media.

“Hurts to see our childhood heroes getting old” was the sentiment.

Chennai Super Kings fans also made it to the comments section with the “Thala for a reason” slogan.

“Everyone knows MSD is obsessed with bikes,” mentioned another person.

MS Dhoni’s Love For Bikes

The former India captain has been collecting bikes since his early days on the international stage. Dhoni has a garage at his Ranchi farmhouse packed with iconic bikes and their high-end models.

According to reports, the 2011 World Cup-winning captain’s collection of superbikes includes a Kawasaki Ninja H2, Confederate X132 Hellcat, Kawasaki Ninja ZX-14R, Harley Davidson FatBoy, Ducati 1098, Yamaha RD350, Yamaha Rajdoot, Suzuki Shogun, Yamaha Thundercat, BSA Goldstar, Norton Jubilee 250 and TVS Apache RR 310.

Apart from this, Dhoni was recently seen travelling around Ranchi in a vintage Rolls-Royce.

Source : https://www.news18.com/viral/ms-dhoni-signs-royal-enfield-interceptor650-asks-fan-for-review-video-aa-ws-l-9695676.html

Security agencies are examining whether the blast at the Red Fort is part of Jaish-e-Mohammed’s “three-month operational cycle”.

The high-intensity blast near Delhi’s Red Fort – an iconic tourist destination in the crowded part of the old city area – on Sunday evening that took 9 lives has set off a probe into a “familiar operational pattern” seen in past terror incidents attributed to Pakistan-based terrorist group Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM). The officials, however, are still probing the explosion. The early indicators, according to the sources, suggest the timing and method of the blast bear similarities to JeM’s previous strikes, particularly the Pulwama terror attack.
Intel sources have indicated that JeM may have once again tried to follow its three-month pattern, attempting another attack after a gap of three months — similar to the Pahalgam attack and the subsequent Mahadev operation, both carried out roughly three months apart.

A questionable video of a man bathing inside a train reportedly at a Jhansi railway station was shared on social media, which went viral and left netizens furious. As per North Central Railway, an action has been taken against the man.

How far can one go in the name of ‘creating creative content’ for social media? Well, it turns out that the answer, for some people, is ‘very far’. A questionable video was recently shared on social media, which showed a man casually taking a bath inside a train. Yes, take your time to sink that in. The man was bathing near the coach’s toilet, with a mug and a bucket full of water. The man, just in his underwear, continued to pour water on himself, while another nearby passenger continued to record the embarrassing act. The video naturally went viral and left most people fuming over the lack of civic sense and ‘thirst for virality’. Soon, the clip came into the notice of authorities, who were quick in taking action against the ‘reeler’.
Updating on the matter, the official handle of the North Central Railway stated that the man has been identified and a legal action has been taken against him. As per the authorities, the man later confessed that the act was for social media. The incident, on the other hand, unfolded on a train at the Veerangana Lakshmibai Jhansi station.
The North Central Railway further requested its passengers not to engage in such activities and to act appropriately. Netizens, on the other hand, were left feeling embarrassed over the man’s desperate attempt to gain popularity. Many also blamed the lack of civic sense among Indians.

Times Now could not confirm the details and the authenticity of the post.

The joint operation is being conducted by police teams from Jammu and Kashmir, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh. So far, eight individuals have been arrested, including an assistant professor at a university in Faridabad.

The Jammu and Kashmir Police have arrested a woman doctor from Lucknow in the multi-state terror sweep being carried out by police forces of Jammu and Kashmir, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh. Dr Shaheen, a resident of Lal Bagh, was arrested Monday and has been flown to Srinagar for custodial interrogation. An AK-47 was recovered from her car, officials said.
Dr Shaheen is said to be an associate of Kashmiri doctor Dr Muzammil Ganaie who was arrested from Faridabad on October 30. Sources said that Dr Shaheen “was in touch with Dr. Muzammil, from whose rented residence Police recovered major cache of explosives.”
Ganaie, who worked as an assistant professor at Al-Falah University in Faridabad, lived in a rented apartment, from where the police seized nearly 360 kg of a highly inflammable substance, believed to be ammonium nitrate, along with arms and ammunition and bomb-making material, in a raid on Sunday.

The police also recovered an assault rifle with three magazines, 83 live rounds, a pistol with eight live cartridges, 12 suitcases, a bucket filled with the explosive substance, 20 timers, remote controls and a walkie-talkie set.

Days later, on November 6, the police also arrested a Pulwama-based doctor – Dr Adeel Ahmad Rather – from a hospital in Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh. Adeel, a resident of south Kashmir’s Qazigund, was wanted for putting up posters backing terror outfit Jaish-e-Mohammed in Srinagar.
Adeel, who worked as a Senior Resident at GMC Anantnag until October 2024, went absconding after the incident. He was apprehended last week after the police acted on leads and tracked him to a private hospital on Ambala Road.
A total of eight individuals have been arrested so far, including Dr Shaheen, Dr Ganaie and Dr Rather.
The eight accused were linked to what authorities described as a “white collar” network connected to Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) and Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind. “The arrests led to the seizure of 2,900 kg of explosives,” officials said.

Source : https://www.timesnownews.com/india/lucknow-woman-doctor-arrested-white-collar-terror-bust-jem-ak47-explosives-article-153129266

A woman doctor, suspected to have close links with the arrested doctor, Dr Muzamil Shakeel, is being interrogated by the Jammu and Kashmir Police and the central agencies.

In a major development in the anti-terror operation underway in Delhi-NCR, a woman doctor associated with one of the accused is being interrogated. The cops have recovered 360 Kg explosives, a rifle, pistols, 5 litre chemicals, 20 timers and 14 bags during raids following the arrest of a doctor hailing from Jammu and Kashmir.
A woman doctor, suspected to have close links with the arrested doctor, Dr Muzamil Shakeel, is being interrogated by the Jammu and Kashmir Police and the central agencies. More police officers have reached the spot, sources told Times Now.
The cops have arrested Dr. Adeel Ahmed Rather, a resident of south Kashmir’s Qazigund, from a hospital in Saharanpur (Uttar Pradesh) on November 6. Another accused, Dr Muzamil Shakeel, a teacher at Al Falaha University, was arrested in a joint operation by Faridabad and Jammu and Kashmir Police.

Adeel Rather was also wanted in connection with putting up posters supporting terror outfit Jaish-e-Mohammed in Srinagar. According to officials, Adeel, who worked as a Senior Resident at GMC Anantnag until October 2024, was absconding after the incident. Acting on leads, police tracked him to a private hospital on Ambala Road in Saharanpur, where he was apprehended.

During the operation, around 360 kg of explosives suspected to be ammonium nitrate, one Carom Cok rifle, two automatic pistols, 84 cartridges, five litres of chemicals, 20 timers with battery and 14 bags were recovered, police said.
Faridabad CP Satender Kumar said, “It is an ongoing joint operation between Haryana police and Jammu and Kashmir Police. An accused, Dr Muzamil, was nabbed. 360 kg of inflammable material is recovered yesterday, which is possibly ammonium nitrate. It is not RDX…”

Source : https://www.timesnownews.com/india/faridabad-arms-recovery-doctor-arested-woman-doctor-under-lens-360-kg-explosives-5-l-chemical-20-timers-14-bags-recovered-article-153127986

A generation of students learns to measure worth in endorsements and impressions rather than competence or character.

In a profession obsessed with evidence, the most damning trial has no judge, no jury – just a LinkedIn profile and a thousand silent verdicts. No cross-examination, no rebuttal. Just a scroll, a sigh and a quiet sense of inadequacy.

LinkedIn was meant to be a bridge connecting young lawyers to mentors, chambers and opportunities. But somewhere along the way, it became a courtroom. Every post is a performance. Every certificate is a plea for relevance. Every internship update is a whispered prayer: please notice me. Please believe I belong.

Congress training camp chief Sachin Rao announced Rahul Gandhi had to do 10 push-ups as punishment for arriving late.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was made to do ten push-ups as a lighthearted punishment for arriving late at the party’s training camp for district presidents in Madhya Pradesh’s Pachmarhi on Saturday. According to party sources, the Congress camp maintained strict discipline, with symbolic penalties introduced to encourage punctuality among participants.

On Sunday, the Congress Raebareli MP arrived nearly 20 minutes late for the evening session, prompting camp chief Sachin Rao to jokingly remind attendees that latecomers were expected to face a “punishment”.

When Rahul Gandhi asked what that meant, Rao said the rule required ten push-ups.

The Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha immediately complied, performing them before taking his seat — an act that drew applause from participants and set a lighter tone for the session.

After the brief episode, Rahul Gandhi went on to address the new district presidents and discuss organisational goals and training strategies.

The event, part of the Congress’s internal capacity-building programme, emphasised discipline and accountability within party ranks.

RENEWED ‘VOTE CHORI’ ATTACK ON BJP

Later, the Congress MP turned his attention to the ruling BJP and the Election Commission, accusing them of large-scale electoral malpractice through ‘vote chori’.

“A few days ago, I presented the Haryana model where 2.5 million votes were stolen — one in every eight. This is their system. The main issue is vote chori,” he claimed, adding that his party had evidence which would be released gradually. Both the BJP and the Election Commission have rejected these allegations.

BJP’S ‘LEADER OF PARTYING’ JIBE

Meanwhile, BJP spokesperson Shahzad Poonawala took a swipe at Gandhi, calling him the “Leader of Tourism and partying”.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/congress-leader-rahul-gandhi-punished-with-10-push-ups-in-panchmarhi-this-is-why-2816336-2025-11-09

This comes after the Supreme Court, while taking into consideration the “alarming rise of dog bite incidents”, ordered all states and Union Territories (UTs) on November 7 to ensure the removal of all stray dogs from every educational institution, hospital, public sports complexes, bus stands, and railway stations.

People protested against the latest Supreme Court order to remove all stray dogs from the premises of educational institutions, hospitals, bus and railway stations at India Gate on Sunday.

This comes after the Supreme Court, while taking into consideration the “alarming rise of dog bite incidents”, ordered all states and Union Territories (UTs) on November 7 to ensure the removal of all stray dogs from every educational institution, hospital, public sports complexes, bus stands, and railway stations.

Speaking to ANI, a protestor said, “I don’t call myself an animal lover or a dog lover. I am a citizen of this country, and I am here for the sake of humanity. In the Supreme Court’s last order, it was said that in the last three years, there have been no deaths due to Rabies. Due to fake reports, they have issued an order to relocate dogs, which will escalate the problem.” “People are being forced to resort to inhalers because they are not able to breathe properly. When they have no answer for their incompetence, and the issues of pollution and vote-chori, they are raising such issues where animals will suffer because they can’t speak or vote. I demand that the government adopt scientific and logical solutions, and that the Supreme Court not make a joke of itself. They should sterilise dogs instead of relocating them,” he added.

A bench of Justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta, and NV Anjaria stated that all these institutions and places must be properly fenced to prevent the entry of stray dogs.

The stray dogs should not be released to the same spot from which they were picked up, the bench ordered. It also said that permitting their return would “frustrate the very purpose” of securing such premises and addressing public safety concerns.”They will not be released back in the same area since releasing them back will frustrate the very purpose of the directive of the court,” said the bench.

Source : https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/protest-at-india-gate-against-supreme-court-order-to-remove-stray-dogs-from-public-places

A shocking video has surfaced on social media, showing a heated exchange between a parent and Delhi Police constable during the protests against the deteriorating air quality in the national capital on Sunday. The video shows that the argument erupts after the constable tries to detain two kids joining the protests while wearing masks.

The video shows that the parent asks the police constable, “Bachchon ko arrest karenge aap?” (Will you arrest children?) to which the constable replies, “Bachchon ko protest mein leke ayange aap?” (You will bring the kids to protest?). The argument then escalated and the parent said, “Isko saans lene ka adhikaar nahi hai kya?” (Doesn’t he has the right to breathe?).

The video is shared by environment activist “Vimlendu Jha” on his X account. The video shows that the constable tries to arrest the kids, however, their parent holds them tight and does not allow the cop to take them away and confronts him. The video was recorded by an onlooker and the video is being widely shared on social media. He also said, “A child is being taken away, claiming that he has no tight to protest.”

Thousands of parents and environmental activists gathered at India Gate to protest against the worsening air quality in the national capital. The protest witnessed involvement of many children accompanied by the mother and father at the event. The protesters demanded urgent action from the government to ensure clean air is available for the citizens to breathe.

Source : https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/isko-saans-lene-ka-right-nahi-hai-heated-exchange-between-parent-delhi-police-as-kids-detained-during-pollution-protest-at-india-gate-video 

Incidentally, the licences of a majority of blood banks in the state have expired long ago. Though many applied for renewal of their licenses, the matter remained pending at various levels.

Ranchi: The public healthcare system in Jharkhand is in the eye of the storm after recent reports of six children getting infected with HIV following transfusion of contaminated blood. The victims, aged between six and ten years, are thalassemia patients who need regular blood transfusion every fortnight.

While five cases were reported from Chaibasa, the sixth one was traced to Koderma. All received blood from the blood banks run by the Sadar Hospital of respective districts. The incident has shed light on the inadequate, inefficient and unscientific management of blood banks by the state’s health department.

A few examples are enough to paint the correct picture. The blood bank run by the Red Cross Society in Ranchi has been pulling on without a valid license for the past 18 years! A chaotic situation prevails in Pakur following the closure of the blood bank there, and the Gumla district’s Sadar Hospital has no blood bank.

Incidentally, the licences of a majority of blood banks in the state have expired long ago. Though many applied for renewal of their licenses, the matter remained pending at various levels.

Aggravating the situation, the laboratories of these blood banks relied mainly on rapid kit tests, the results of which are often inaccurate. Other standard procedures for testing blood samples — ELISA, chemiluminescence, etc. — were overlooked. Either the equipment was not functional due to technical faults or there was a lack of expertise to operate them.

“During 2021-25, 259 donors gave blood to thalassemia patients in Chaibasa. Our further inquiries revealed that the affected patients had received blood from 44 donors in the past. Four such donors were found HIV-infected,” Health Minister Irfan Ansari, also a medical doctor, said, adding that the government would take care of the victims’ treatment.

As the issue snowballed into a major political row, Chief Minister Hemant Soren ordered suspension of Chaibasa civil surgeon and medical officer in-charge and dismissal of lab technicians concerned in Chaibasa and Koderma. He also announced a compensation of Rs 2 lakh to each of the victims.

As a knee-jerk reaction, the government also shut down 17 blood banks across the state.

“We are doing our best. Our chief minister too is keeping a vigilant eye. The BJP and its allies are trying to gain political mileage (out of the incident),” Ansari said, referring to the political backlash over the incident.

Additional Chief Secretary (health) Ajay Kumar Singh maintained that sample tests with rapid kits have completely been stopped. Only the standard procedures such as ELISA and chemiluminescence will remain in force. Inspections of all blood banks across the state have been completed, he said.

Source: https://www.deccanherald.com/india/jharkhand/hiv-from-transfusion-poorly-managed-jharkhand-blood-banks-under-lens-3791716

India recently launched the GSAT-7R, its largest defense communications satellite, to enhance the Indian Navy’s maritime communication and awareness in the Indian Ocean Region, where China’s military presence has been increasing.

India took a significant step toward strengthening its maritime communications network with the launch of GSAT-7R, the country’s heaviest dedicated defence communications satellite, from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre earlier this month. The satellite, weighing about 4,400 kg, will bolster the Indian Navy’s secure, real-time communications and maritime domain awareness across the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) — a theatre where China has expanded its military footprint in recent years.
The launch comes six months after Operation Sindoor, the four-day military offensive in May that saw the Indian armed forces targeting terrorist infrastructure deep within Pakistan. During the conflict, China helped Pakistan with space-based intelligence, as per reports.
Weighing approximately 4,400 kg, GSAT-7R is equipped with numerous indigenous, state-of-the-art components specifically designed to meet the operational needs of the Indian Navy.

“In an era of complex security challenges, GSAT-7R represents the Indian Navy’s determination to protect the nation’s maritime interests by leveraging advanced technology through Aatmanirbharta (self-reliance),” stated the Defence Ministry.

What’s GSAT-7R?
The satellite will enhance connectivity with high-capacity bandwidth, enabling secure real-time communication between naval ships, aircraft, and submarines across IOR, upto 2,000 kms from India’s coastline.
It will enabl blue-water operations — i.e., sustained naval presence far from Indian shores.
The satellite will support network-centric warfare, where all naval assets operate as a unified information network.
Why It Matters
India is expanding maritime surveillance and response across the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
GSAT-7R will offer higher bandwidth, better encryption, and greater coverage than its predecessor.
Enhances interoperability with the upcoming P-75I submarine fleet, carrier groups, and maritime drones.
China’s Military Satellite Fleet Now over 1,000

China has rapidly developed advanced anti-space capabilities like direct-ascent anti-satellite missiles, co-orbital satellites, electronic warfare systems, and high-powered directed energy weapons such as lasers designed to deny or degrade another nation’s access to space.
From just 36 in 2010, China’s military satellite fleet has expanded to over 1,000 by 2024, including around 360 satellites dedicated to intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) missions, according to a Times of India report.
Integrated Defence Staff chief Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit, speaking at a seminar in June, emphasised the need to expand India’s “surveillance envelope” and underscored the importance of “real-time situational awareness” in military operations.

Source: https://www.timesnownews.com/india/how-indias-most-advanced-eye-in-the-sky-gsat-7r-will-counter-chinas-expanding-space-power-article-153122340

The ceremony was attended by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who congratulated Ghosh and her coach for their outstanding contribution to Indian cricket.

The Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) on Saturday felicitated India women’s cricket team wicketkeeper-batter Richa Ghosh at Kolkata’s iconic Eden Gardens for her stellar performance in the World Cup. The ceremony was attended by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who congratulated Ghosh and her coach for their outstanding contribution to Indian cricket.

Mamata Hails ‘Daughters of Bengal’

Speaking at the event, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee praised Richa’s achievements, calling her an inspiration for young girls across the state.

“Richa’s remarkable achievement is a testament to the talent, determination, and spirit of Bengal’s daughters, inspiring countless young girls to dream big and aim high. We all have more expectations from her, but we should not pressurize her,” Banerjee said.The Chief Minister also expressed hope that Bengal’s archery team would one day make it to the Olympics.

Hefty Reward and State Honours

As part of the felicitation, a cheque of ₹34 lakh was presented to Richa Ghosh — representing each run she scored in the World Cup final. Additionally, she was conferred with the ‘Banga Bhushan’ award, a gold chain, and an appointment as Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) in West Bengal.

Jhulan Goswami Recalls Talent Hunt Discovery

Former Indian women’s team captain Jhulan Goswami recalled discovering Richa during a district-level talent hunt held years ago.

“We came across Richa and many other talented players during that drive. Today, she has made history, and I hope she continues to win more such accolades,” Goswami said.

Sourav Ganguly Sees Leadership Potential

Former India captain and CAB President Sourav Ganguly lauded Richa’s performance, calling her a potential future captain of the Indian women’s cricket team.

Source: https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/mamata-banerjee-felicitates-cricketer-richa-ghosh-at-eden-gardens-sourav-ganguly-calls-her-future-captain

Train journeys are no doubt fun when travelling with friends and family. The endless chatter and the ever-changing landscapes outside make the ride as memorable as the destination itself. But perhaps one of the biggest turn-offs is the uncleanness. It doesn’t matter if you are travelling in 2AC, 3AC, or sleeper class; the problem persists everywhere. From stained windows to overflowing bins, the sight can sometimes ruin the charm of an otherwise scenic ride.

But what if the people responsible for maintaining the coaches’ cleanliness are the ones responsible for contributing to the mess? Recently, a video has surfaced on social media, showcasing a similar distressing event.

OBHS Tosses Garbage From Moving Train

The clip, recorded by a passenger, captured the On Board Housekeeping Service (OBHS) staff member casually throwing away garbage on the tracks, out of a moving train. After that, the employee casually replaced the trash bin with another plastic bag, seemingly indifferent to the environmental damage caused. The camera then panned to the passenger, who exhibited a disappointed expression.

Internet Criticises Inappropriate Act

“OBHS staff are contractual employees hired via tenders, earning approximately ₹15,000 monthly for shifts exceeding nine hours, with overtime at double rates mandated by labour laws, yet facing criticism for low accountability and overwork in maintaining hygiene across over 1,100 train pairs,” slammed a user.

“Everyone is busy keeping their own place clean by throwing the garbage outside. Our civic sense is still in 1925,” pointed out another. “Every time you throw garbage on railway lines, remember — someone has to risk their life cleaning it. Respect their work. Keep our railways clean,” highlighted an individual.

Source : https://www.news18.com/viral/indian-railways-irctc-housekeeping-staff-throws-garbage-from-moving-train-video-aa-ws-l-9693765.html

Union Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu and Aviation Secretary Samir Kumar Sinha visited the Delhi Air Traffic Control (ATC) centre on Friday night amid the tech glitch.

Delhi Airport on Thursday and Friday witnessed massive technical disruption which led to delays in over 800 flights. Reviewing the situation, the Central government directed the Airports Authority to immediately upgrade the system at busy airports.

The civil aviation ministry has directed the Airports Authority of India (AAI) to install a new Air Traffic Services Message Handling System (AMHS) within the next 90 days, replacing the existing software that has experienced repeated technical issues.

Union aviation minister Ram Mohan Naidu and aviation secretary Samir Kumar Sinha visited the Delhi Air Traffic Control (ATC) centre on Friday night and stayed there with a team of senior officials until 2 AM. They returned to the facility again on Saturday evening to review the situation and assess progress on the planned system upgrade.

Overworked and exhausted air traffic controllers (ATCOs) at Delhi’s Air Traffic Control (ATC) have long been asking for basic facilities such as a tea or coffee vending machine in the tower, as the canteen closes at night despite ATC operations running round the clock. Their request was raised during discussions with aviation secretary Samir Kumar Sinha, who is understood to have approved it immediately.

In July, the ATCOs’ Guild of India had warned that “current systems, especially at major airports like Delhi and Mumbai, have experienced performance degradation directly impacting operational efficiency and safety margins.” Following the AI-171 crash in Ahmedabad, the guild wrote to Members of Parliament on 8 July, urging that “automation systems used in air navigation services (be) periodically reviewed and upgraded to meet future demands.”

The technical snag that affected the Air Message Switching System (AMSS) on Friday night was resolved later the same evening. On Saturday, Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) posted on X that “all flight operations are normal.”

Source : https://www.news18.com/india/centre-sets-90-day-deadline-for-atc-upgrade-after-delhi-airport-glitch-9694153.html

OP Singh, Haryana DGP, claimed Mahindra Thar drivers often engage in stunts and reckless acts, linking the vehicle to rising traffic violations and safety concerns in the state.

OP Singh, the Director General of Police for Haryana, stirred controversy when he asserted that individuals driving a Mahindra Thar are likely engaging in reckless behaviour. He made these remarks while outlining traffic-enforcement protocols and emphasising the visibility of certain vehicles to police teams.

Speaking to the press, Singh said:

“If it’s a Thar, how can we let it go? … People who drive Thars perform stunts on the road.”

He went on to suggest that the vehicle is treated as a symbolic choice rather than simply a mode of transport:

“The Thar is not a car, it’s a statement which says ‘this is how I am’.”

Singh pointed to recent incidents of dangerous driving and stunts involving Thars—such as passengers riding on roof racks or standing on sideboards—linking these behaviours with the vehicle’s image among some young drivers.

Source : https://www.news18.com/cities/people-who-drive-a-thar-must-be-crazy-haryana-top-cops-comment-ws-l-9694125.html

The four-year-old girl, belonging to the Banjara community, was found in a pool of blood near a drain and is hospitalised in a critical condition at Tarakeswar

A four-year-old girl is critical after she was allegedly abducted from a railway shed, sexually abused, and left in a bloody state next to a drain in Hooghly near Kolkata.

The girl, belonging to the Banjara community, was sleeping next to her grandmother when she was picked up on the night of November 7. She is undergoing treatment at a hospital in Tarakeswar.

The girl’s family told the police that she was sleeping on a cot under a mosquito net at a railway shed in Tarakeswar when the perpetrator cut through the cloth and took her. Her grandmother said she realised she was missing around 4 am.

“She was sleeping with me. Around 4 am, someone took her away. I didn’t even realise when she was taken. I don’t know who the people were who took her away. They cut the mosquito net and took her away,” the grandmother said.

The child was found naked in a pool of blood near the Tarakeswar railway high drain the next afternoon (November 8) and was rushed to a hospital. Her grandmother brought attention to their vulnerable living situation.

“We live on the streets because they have demolished our houses. Where do we go? We don’t have any homes,” she said.

A case was registered under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. But the ruling Trinamool Congress drew sharp criticism from the opposition BJP, which alleged that there was a delay in filing the FIR as the police initially hesitated to do so.

“The child was asleep beside her maternal grandmother under a mosquito net when the accused allegedly cut through it and took her away. After hours of frantic searching, she was found near a drain bleeding, unclothed, with bite marks on her cheek. Despite hours of treatment, she is still bleeding from her genitals,” said Parna Adak, Arambagh district BJP secretary.

Leader of the opposition in West Bengal, Suvendu Adhikari alleged that the police were trying to suppress the facts in the case. Calling Mamata Banerjee a “failed chief minister”, he claimed there is a “fake law and order image” in her “free-for-all regime”.

Source : https://www.news18.com/india/minor-girl-sleeping-next-to-grandmother-abducted-from-railway-shed-raped-near-kolkata-ws-l-9694126.html

Similar to India’s earlier G20 presidency, the goal is to present a country-wide, pan-India BRICS image while showcasing India’s rich culture and heritage

The Narendra Modi government has ambitious plans for hosting the presidency of BRICS starting January 1, 2026, aiming to build and project a strong brand image for India during its tenure, according to a document seen by CNN-News18. US President Donald Trump has described BRICS as an “attack on the US dollar” and justified tariffs against member countries.

BRICS meetings are expected to be held across all 28 states and 9 union territories, covering approximately 60 cities. Similar to India’s earlier G20 presidency, the goal is to present a country-wide, pan-India BRICS image while showcasing India’s rich culture and heritage, as stated in the document accessed by CNN-News18. A BRICS theme song, lasting 3-4 minutes, may be composed by a renowned Indian musician of international repute who has experience in world music and performing at prestigious international forums or is a recipient of global awards.

BRICS is an intergovernmental organisation with 11 full members and 10 partner countries, including India, Brazil, Russia, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE. Upon attaining the presidency of BRICS for 2026, India is keen to effectively showcase its position on both national and international levels, as per the document. India has played a crucial role in developing the agenda for institutional reforms, climate finance, digital governance, and strengthening the voice of the global south, the document reveals.

The government will undertake a branding and publicity campaign for India’s BRICS presidency to popularise the BRICS logo, themes, priorities, and outcomes to a wide audience, both domestically and internationally.

Planned Activities

A list of planned activities includes a BRICS-themed kite festival, projection of the BRICS logo through ecological diyas during Diwali, holographic representations of the BRICS logo in various cities, a Republic Day tableau, and branding on airlines used for delegate transportation.

The government also plans BRICS branding and publicity during state festivals such as the Kerala boat festival, the International Sand Art Festival of Odisha, and the Goa carnival. Additionally, the BRICS logo will be projected on public transport like metro systems, state buses, and railways. Other initiatives include drone swarms in cities and possible collaborations with food festivals for a BRICS-themed food fest.

Source : https://www.news18.com/india/modi-govts-big-plans-for-2026-brics-presidency-project-strong-image-of-india-exclusive-9693650.html

President Droupadi Murmu has begun a historic six-day visit to Angola and Botswana, the first-ever by an Indian head of state to strengthen bilateral ties in trade, energy, defence, and people-to-people cooperation.

President Droupadi Murmu reached Angola on Saturday in the first-leg of her six-day state visit to the African country, followed by neighbouring Botswana.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has described the two-nation visit between November 8–13 as a part of India’s efforts to open up new avenues for collaboration and expanding partnership with the two countries in the African region.

This is the first-ever state visit by an Indian head of state to these countries, as per the MEA.

Murmu was received at the international airport in the Angolan capital of Luanda by the country’s Minister of External Relations, Tete Antonio, apart from other senior officials from both countries.

During the next three days here, the president will hold high-level engagements, including bilateral talks with her Angolan counterpart Joao Manuel Goncalves Lourenco, and also attend the 50th anniversary celebrations of the African nation’s independence.

The president is also scheduled to address the Angolan parliament and interact with members of the Indian community.

“India and Angola enjoy very close ties of friendship and cooperation which have been growing across sectors. We have a vibrant energy partnership with Angola,” Sudhakar Dalela, Secretary (Economic Relations) in the MEA, said at a press briefing on Thursday.

The visit will provide an opportunity to review the entire gamut of bilateral ties and to expand mutually beneficial cooperation in sectors such as agriculture, health, energy, trade and investments, technology, infrastructure development, defence and people-to-people connections, he said.

The secretary also said that the visit was “significant” even as the two countries are celebrating the 40th anniversary of their diplomatic ties this year.

Murmu, on November 11, will start the second leg of her visit and travel to Botswana’s capital Gaborone.

As part of her engagements there, she will meet her counterpart, Duma Gideon Boko, address the national assembly and attend an event related to translocation of cheetahs to India as part of Project Cheetah.

“We are confident that the visit of Hon’ble Rashtrapatiji will further strengthen India’s long-standing collaborative ties with Angola and Botswana, and open up new avenues for collaboration and expanding our partnership.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/president-droupadi-murmu-angola-botswana-visit-india-africa-ties-2815993-2025-11-09

In his letter to PM Modi, the school’s principal, Dinto K.P. pointed out that Southern Railway’s official X handle deleted the post “after 2 Malayalam news channels, 24 News, and Media 1, criticised the song as being associated with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh.”

Amid the raging row over an “RSS song” sung by students at a Vande Bharat launch event in Kerala on Saturday, the school, in a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, clarified that it was a patriotic Malayalam number titled “Paramapavitramathamie Mannil Bharathambaye Poojikkan” and contained no words challenging the secular fabric or national unity of the country.

The letter ended by asking whether the students were wrong to sing a patriotic song. “Our humble question is: Can’t our children sing a patriotic song that praises our motherland? Such actions discourage the spirit of nationalism among young minds.”

In his letter to PM Modi, the school’s principal, Dinto K.P. pointed out that Southern Railway’s official X handle deleted the post “after 2 Malayalam news channels, 24 News, and Media 1, criticised the song as being associated with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh.”

The school went on to highlight that while parents, students, and staff “felt immensely proud,” the removal of the tweet from Southern Railway’s official X account had “deeply saddened our students, staff, parents, and well-wishers.”

“The song contains no words or sentiments against secularism or national unity. It only expresses reverence towards Bharat Mata and pride in our nation,” the letter to the PM further read.

However, in an edited tweet on Saturday evening, Southern Railway posted a video of the students singing, saying, “The students of Saraswathi Vidyalaya beautifully performed their school song during the inaugural run of the Ernakulam–Bengaluru Vande Bharat Express.”

Earlier, Kerala’s ruling CPM and the opposition Congress came down heavily over the incident, with Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan calling the move “highly condemnable” and “a blatant violation of constitutional principles.”

Following Vijayan’s attack, senior Congress leader KC Venugopal said that he had written to the Railway Minister, demanding an explanation for why school students were asked to sing the RSS song at the launch event.

“A public event was converted into an RSS function and the Southern Railway’s official X handle proudly shared this as well. This is a blatant misuse of Indian Railways, a national institution that belongs to every citizen, not any divisive ideology,” he said.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/cant-our-children-sing-patriotic-songs-kerala-school-writes-to-pm-modi-amid-rss-row-pinarayi-vijayan-2815950-2025-11-08

The woman sat in front of the shopkeeper with her face partially covered by a dupatta and pretended to be a customer. Then, she suddenly threw chilli powder at him in an apparent bid to rob the shop.

A woman’s failed attempt to rob a jewellery shop in Ahmedabad has gone viral after CCTV footage captured the dramatic moment the alert shopkeeper foiled her plan and retaliated within seconds.

The incident occurred at a jewellery store in the Ranip area of Ahmedabad. The woman, with her face partially covered by a dupatta, sat in front of the shopkeeper pretending to be a customer before suddenly throwing chilli powder at him in an alleged apparent bid to rob the shop.

However, the shopkeeper dodged the attack immediately, caught hold of her, and, in a fit of anger, slapped her repeatedly, around 17 times in 20 seconds, before pushing her out of the shop.

The CCTV footage has gone viral on social media.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/trending-news/story/ahmedabad-woman-tries-to-rob-jeweller-with-chilli-powder-gets-17-slaps-in-20-seconds-viral-video-2815352-2025-11-07

India is repatriating on Thursday the first batch of hundreds of its nationals who last month fled to Thailand from Myanmar, where most had been working at a notorious center for online scams.

The center, known as KK Park on the outskirts of the border city of Myawaddy and said to house a major cybercrime operation, was raided by Myanmar’s army in mid-October to suppress cross-border online scams and illegal gambling.

An Indian air force transport plane left Thailand en route to India and another plane was to leave later in the day, with about 270 out of 465 Indians who are to be repatriated. The remainder will leave Thailand next Monday, according to Maj. Gen. Maitree Chupreecha, commander of the Thai army’s northern region Naresuan Task Force.

In March, India repatriated 549 nationals after an earlier crackdown on cybercrime operations at the Myanmar-Thai border.

Those currently being repatriated are among more than 1,500 people from 28 nations who fled the raid in Myawaddy. Across the border in the Thai town of Mae Sot, Thai authorities had set up temporary facilities for housing and processing not just Indians, but also Chinese, Filipinos, Vietnamese, Ethiopians and Kenyans, among other nationalities.

In April, the U.N. Office on Drugs and Crime estimated that hundreds of industrial-scale scam centers generate just under $40 billion in annual profits.

Southeast Asia is the world epicenter for online scams, and hundreds of thousands of people are believed to have been lured to work in Myanmar, Cambodia and Laos, where many were forced to perpetrate global scams involving false romances, fraudulent investments, and illegal gambling.

Human trafficking is another major criminal aspect of such operations as many of the workers were recruited under false pretenses offering legitimate jobs, only to find themselves trapped in virtual slavery.

State media in military-run Myanmar said the raid on KK Park was part of operations starting in early September to suppress cross-border online scams and illegal gambling. Since the raid, witnesses and the Thai army have said that that parts of KK Park were demolished by explosions.

However, independent Myanmar media, including The Irrawaddy, an online news service, have reported that organized criminal scams in Myanmar continue to operate in the Myawaddy area.

The cybercrime problem received major attention last month when the United States and Britain enacted sanctions against organizers of a major Cambodian cyberscam gang, and its alleged ringleader was indicted by a U.S. federal court in New York.

In South Korea, the case of a young man, killed after apparently being lured to work at a cyberscam operation in Cambodia, caused an uproar.

Source: https://apnews.com/article/cybercrime-myanmar-thailand-india-scams-eab962e87b297130e426be13f7dd5761

Firms that do not fall under the extension criteria should be inspected immediately, the notice said.

New Delhi: India’s drug regulator on Friday ordered state authorities to ensure all pharmaceutical factories comply with international manufacturing standards by January, rejecting industry pleas for more time after toxic cough syrup was linked to additional child deaths since September.

The government had directed drugmakers in late 2023 to upgrade plants to World Health Organization-recommended norms, including measures to prevent cross-contamination and enable batch testing.

The move followed global outrage after India-made cough syrups were tied to the deaths of more than 140 children in Africa and Central Asia, tarnishing the country’s reputation as the “pharmacy of the world.”

Large pharmaceutical firms met a June 2024 deadline, while smaller manufacturers were given until December 2025 as part of an earlier extension. Industry groups had sought further extensions, warning that compliance costs could bankrupt small businesses.

But the deaths of 24 children in central India linked to contaminated syrup prompted authorities to hold firm.

The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation said in a notice, seen by Reuters, that the revised standards under “Schedule M” will apply to all manufacturers from January 1, and directed state regulators to begin inspections.

“In case any manufacturing unit is found non-complying with the requirements of revised Schedule M during inspections, strict action shall be initiated,” the notice, signed by Drugs Controller General Rajeev Singh Raghuvanshi, said.

Source: https://www.deccanherald.com/india/cough-syrup-deaths-indias-drug-regulator-orders-all-pharmaceutical-factories-to-meet-global-standards-by-january-3790876

The parents of nine-year-old Amayra, who died after jumping from the fourth floor of her Jaipur school, have accused the teacher and school administration of ignoring her repeated bullying complaints and alleged a cover-up.

The parents of a nine-year-old girl who jumped to her death from the fourth floor of a private school in Jaipur have accused a teacher of ignoring their daughter’s repeated complaints about being bullied by her classmates, even on the day of the incident.

They alleged that the girl had approached the teacher at least four times, complaining about being bullied by some boys in her class, and that the parents themselves had raised the issue with the school on earlier occasions.

“She had complained to me several times about being bullied in class. Some boys used to disrespect her and tease her by linking her name with another boy. I had approached the teacher regarding this matter, but she was very insensitive,” the girl’s mother, Shivani, told India Today.

On November 1, nine-year-old Amayra jumped from the fourth floor of Neerja Modi School, a height of nearly 48 feet, in an incident her parents described as “beyond imagination” for a child who was “happy and bright.” She was rushed to a hospital but was declared dead on arrival. The tragic event was captured on CCTV, which showed her climbing onto the railing before jumping.

According to the mother, the bullying had intensified last year and continued this year since the same set of students remained in her section. “I had complained once or twice last year too. I even told the principal, Indu ma’am, about what was happening to Amayra inside the classroom,” she added.

Calling it a ‘silent killer’, Dr Soumya Swaminathan said air pollution is damaging the lungs, hearts and brains of Indians and must be tackled as a public health emergency

India can no longer afford to treat air pollution as a seasonal or environmental issue — it is now a full-blown public health crisis claiming lives every day, Dr Soumya Swaminathan told News18 in an exclusive conversation. The former WHO Chief Scientist and public health expert has called for a National Clean Air Mission, warning that toxic air is damaging lungs, hearts and even developing brains.

Swaminathan said air pollution has emerged as one of the top health risk factors in India, contributing to heart attacks, strokes, dementia and cancers. “It is cutting many years from our lives,” she said.

She pointed out that India’s air quality standards remain far weaker than the WHO’s safe limits — 40 µg/m³ for PM2.5 compared with the global benchmark of 5 µg/m³ — and yet, “even that 40 is not achieved across much of northern India.”

The former WHO scientist warned that prolonged exposure is driving a rise in lung cancer among non-smokers. “It’s like smoking twenty or thirty cigarettes a day,” she said, adding that infants and children are the most vulnerable.

As a paediatrician, Swaminathan underlined that the damage begins even before birth, with studies showing a higher risk of low birth weight and premature babies among mothers exposed to high pollution levels. “It not only affects lung development but also impacts the brain,” she said.

She added that indoor air pollution remains an overlooked hazard. “Many poor families still rely on firewood or dung for cooking because LPG refills are unaffordable,” she said. The result is chronic exposure for women and children inside their homes.

According to the State of Global Air 2024 report, about 1.7 lakh Indian children under five died in 2021 due to air pollution — a figure Dr Swaminathan cited to show the scale of harm. “We are setting them up for a lifetime of ill health,” she said, warning that pollution-driven inflammation raises the risk of diabetes, neurological disorders and chronic lung disease.

She stressed that investing in clean air is not just moral or medical, but economically smart. “The World Bank estimates every dollar invested gives six dollars in return,” she said.

For immediate protection, she recommended air purifiers in schools, N95 masks on high-AQI days, and limiting outdoor activity for children when pollution peaks. But she warned these are only stopgap measures. “No one can isolate themselves from the air they breathe. The only solution is collective national action.”

Swaminathan, a global expert in tuberculosis and HIV research, has urged the government to adopt a mission-mode, multi-sector National Clean Air Plan, backed by empowered governance and financing — a programme she compared to India’s successful large-scale drives such as the polio elimination campaign and Swachh Bharat Mission. “We achieved what looked impossible before — polio elimination and massive sanitation coverage — and we can do this for clean air too,” she said.

Source: https://www.news18.com/india/air-pollution-killing-indians-daily-time-for-a-national-clean-air-mission-ex-who-chief-scientist-ws-l-9692492.html

Activists said the ruling violates the Animal Birth Control (ABC) Rules, which require sterilised and vaccinated dogs to be released back to the same area.

The Supreme Court on Friday ruled that stray dogs will no longer be allowed on the premises of schools, hospitals, transport hubs or sports complexes, and directed that they be removed and relocated to shelters after sterilisation and vaccination.

The order, aimed at preventing dog attacks and improving safety in public spaces, has drawn sharp criticism from animal rights groups, who called it “impractical, inhumane, and contrary to national animal welfare law.”

Activists said the ruling violates the Animal Birth Control (ABC) Rules, which require sterilised and vaccinated dogs to be released back to the same area they were picked up from.

“Dogs living on school or railway premises cannot be relocated—it’s their home. The ABC Rules are clear that every dog must be sterilised, vaccinated, and released back. Making exceptions undermines the very basis of animal rights,” said independent activist Sonyaa Khanna.

Speaking to Hindustan Times, Maneka Gandhi, former Union minister and animal welfare advocate, said, “The Supreme Court is asking every municipal body and district magistrate to remove dogs from schools, hospitals, railway stations and bus stops, and build walls around these spaces. How will they build walls at bus stops or railway stations? How will they stop dogs from returning?”

She added, “Ninety-five percent of bite cases happen due to relocation. If roughly 35 lakh dogs are taken out of their territories, where will they go? There are no shelters, and even if they are built, who will fund them?” Gandhi said the more sustainable approach would be to expand sterilisation facilities. “We need 700 ABC centres for 700 districts. In two years, the population can fall from 1.35 crore to 60 lakh. Right now, only 50 districts have such centres,” she said.

Other activists warned that the order could worsen the problem. “It’s a problematic directive, similar to the one issued on August 11. We don’t have enough shelters, and there’s no clarity on how new dogs will be kept out of cleared areas. Chasing them away only makes them aggressive,” said Asher Jesudoss, member of the Delhi Animal Welfare Board.

“The ABC centres in Delhi are in terrible shape. We need to fix what exists before building new systems. This is not scientific population management,” he added.

Gauri Maulekhi, trustee of People for Animals – Public Policy Foundation, said vague court directions were already being misused. “In recent months, we’ve seen dogs being illegally lifted, dumped outside cities, and brutalised. Caregivers, many of them women, have been threatened. Today’s order, without safeguards, will only deepen the crisis,” she said.

Independent activist Salman Ali said the ruling went against “both the rights and dignity of dogs,” urging the government to focus on proper implementation of the ABC programme instead.

At Delhi University’s Kirori Mal College, students expressed dismay at the order. “Our students love the campus dogs, so we took the most practical step—vaccinating them to keep everyone safe. The Supreme Court’s proposal feels impractical and impossible to enforce,” said principal Dinesh Khattar.

Source: https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/delhi-news/residents-activists-call-sc-order-on-removing-stray-dogs-impractical-inhumane-101762541119844.html

43-year-old Johnkennedy Chukwuemeka Okoro, a resident of Imo State, Nigeria, had initially arrived in Mumbai in 2012 on a business visa.

A Nigerian national who had been residing in India illegally for over a decade has been deported by the Hyderabad Narcotic Enforcement Wing (H-NEW), in a coordinated effort with the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO).

The deportation is part of H-NEW’s intensified crackdown on foreign nationals overstaying their visas and engaging in illegal activities, particularly drug smuggling.

43-year-old Johnkennedy Chukwuemeka Okoro, a resident of Imo State, Nigeria, had initially arrived in Mumbai in 2012 on a business visa.

According to the police, he later moved frequently between Bengaluru and Hyderabad. Investigators confirmed that his passport and visa had long since expired, rendering his stay illegal.

Acting on credible intelligence, H-NEW apprehended Okoro, who uses aliases including ‘Hopy Cup’ and ‘Jeksa,’ within the limits of Hyderabad’s Asif Nagar Police Station.

Although no narcotics were seized at the time of his arrest, the authorities confirmed his prolonged illegal residence and suspected involvement in drug-smuggling activities, a means, officials believe, by which he was earning easy money.

Following his detention, H-NEW and the FRRO worked closely to verify his identity and secure the necessary travel documents, culminating in his deportation back to Nigeria.

The police say “swift action” was taken to prevent the individual from continuing illegal activities “detrimental to national security”.

This deportation highlights a persistent challenge for law enforcement in Telangana regarding foreign nationals who enter the country legally but overstay their welcome and integrate into local drug supply chains.

The H-NEW was established specifically to combat the growing menace of drug trafficking and substance abuse in the city. The agency often tracks foreign nationals, particularly those whose visas have expired, who are allegedly leveraging their illegal status to engage in low-risk, high-reward drug distribution, often targeting students and young professionals.

Since its formation, the H-NEW has focused on both disrupting the supply of drugs and removing the network of illegal foreign residents involved in the trade. This latest action against Okoro adds to a growing list.

Police sources indicate that H-NEW has deported at least 22 foreign nationals for illegal stays and other undesirable activities since its inception, with a significant number occurring this year alone.

Source: https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/nigerian-man-staying-in-india-illegally-for-over-10-years-deported-9597001

India needs more “big banks” and efforts are underway to achieve that goal, including the possibility of consolidating some state-run banks, the country’s finance minister said on Thursday.
India has 12 state-owned banks, which together held assets totaling 171 trillion rupees ($1.95 trillion) as of March, representing 55% of the nation’s banking sector.

The Indian government in 2020 consolidated 27 banks into 12 to form larger entities. It is also considering allowing higher foreign investment in state-owned lenders, Reuters reported last month.

“India needs a lot of big, world class banks, and for that we will have to talk with the Reserve Bank (of India) and banks, and to see how they want to take it forward,” Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said.
The government will also discuss the idea of building larger banks with the RBI, she said. The minister was responding to a question on whether the government is discussing further bank consolidation and higher foreign investment limits for public sector banks.
“So there’s a lot of work to do prior to my saying yes. Work has already commenced and we are discussing with the RBI and banks,” she said.

Sitharaman said the consolidation of existing public sector banks can also be one of the routes to create bigger banks.
“But you need an ecosystem in which more banks can operate to grow, and that environment is well established in India but I need it to be a bit more dynamic… some work is happening on it,” she said.

Source: https://www.reuters.com/world/india/india-talks-create-bigger-banks-including-via-mergers-finance-minister-says-2025-11-06/

The protest by sugarcane farmers demanding a higher price for their produce entered its eighth day in Belagavi on Thursday.

Protesting sugarcane farmers in Karnataka allegedly threw slippers at State Minister Shivanand Patil’s car when he was leaving the protest site in Belagavi on November 6.

The protest by sugarcane farmers demanding a higher price for their produce entered its eighth day in Belagavi on Thursday.

The Karnataka Minister met the protesting farmers in Belagavi.

Addressing reports of a possible National Highway blockade, Minister Shivananad Patil said, “I am here to make an appeal, not to escalate the situation. The power to fix sugarcane prices does not lie with the state government–it is under the jurisdiction of the Central Government. The Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP) is decided by the Centre. The Union Minister for Sugar, who is also from our state, has not yet taken any initiative. The authority and responsibility to resolve this issue rest with the Central Government.”

Earlier, Patil informed that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah will meet with all sugar mill owners across the state on Friday, and that the final decision will be taken there.

“Tomorrow, the Chief Minister has convened a meeting with all sugar mill owners across the state. A final decision will be taken there. Based on that outcome, we will determine how best to extend support to our farmers. The farmers’ protest so far has been sincere, and we will make every effort to strengthen their movement. I will personally visit the protest site tomorrow,” Patil told reporters.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, seeking an urgent appointment to discuss the “serious situation arising out of the ongoing agitation by sugarcane farmers” in North Karnataka, particularly in Belagavi, Bagalkote, Vijayapura, Vijayanagara, Bidar, Gadag, Hubli-Dharwad and Haveri districts.

Source: https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/protesting-sugarcane-farmers-throw-slippers-at-karnataka-minister-shivanand-patils-car-9590698

Veteran Kannada Actor Harish Rai Passes Away: KGF’s ‘Chacha’ Dies After Battle With Thyroid Cancer, DK Shivakumar Pays Tribute

Veteran Kannada actor Harish Rai, widely recognised for his memorable performances in films such as Om and K.G.F: Chapter 1, bid farewell on Thursday (6 November 2025). He passed away at the Kidwai Memorial Institute of Oncology in Bengaluru, where he had been undergoing treatment for thyroid cancer.

Reports indicate that Rai’s illness had metastasised to his stomach, leaving him extremely weak. He is survived by his wife and two sons.

He earned a special place in the hearts of audiences as “Don Rai” in Om and as “Chacha” in the K.G.F. series. In a public tribute on X (formerly Twitter), Karnataka’s Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar described Rai’s death as “an extremely sorrowful event”, noting that the film industry has grown poorer with his passing. He added:

“The film industry has become poorer with the death of Harish Roy, who was suffering from cancer… I pray that his soul attains peace and that God grants strength to his family and loved ones, who are in pain from his departure. Om Shanti.”

Earlier, a social media influencer visited Rai and shared footage of him appealing publicly for financial assistance. In the video, he expressed a desire to return to acting if his health improved, and revealed the high cost of his treatment, stating one injection alone cost ₹3.55 lakh. Each treatment cycle required three such injections over 63 days, totalling approximately ₹10.5 lakh per cycle — with some patients needing 17–20 injections, bringing potential treatment costs to around ₹70 lakh.

Rai’s career spanned Kannada, Tamil and Telugu films. Among his notable works were Om, Samara, Bangalore Underworld, Jodi Hakki, Raj Bahadur, Sanju Weds Geetha, Swayamvara, Nalla, and both parts of the K.G.F. series.

Source:https://www.spotboye.com/south/kannada/veteran-kannada-actor-harish-rai-passes-away-kgf-s-chacha-dies-after-battle-with-thyroid-cancer-dk-shivakumar-pays-tribute/690c8df7c95eb142d3289f19

India all-rounder Deepti Sharma was elated upon meeting the President of India, Droupadi Murmu, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, along with her team

India all-rounder Deepti Sharma was elated upon meeting the President of India, Droupadi Murmu, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, along with her team, after their victory at the recently concluded Women’s World Cup. She said that she felt special being addressed as ‘DSP’ by the PM. Deepti, who won the Player of the Tournament for her wicket-taking spree at the World Cup, also revealed that the PM knew everything about everyone and was aware of her Instagram bio as well as her favourite dish, which is paneer. Deepti Sharma is Deputy Superintendent in Uttar Pradesh Police.

“I’m feeling very happy, and it feels really good because everyone has been waiting for this moment for a long time. The dream of all Indians – and mine too – has come true by winning the World Cup trophy. History has been created, and I think everyone will remember this for a long time – we will too – and right now, we’re enjoying this moment,” Deepti told IANS.

“The meeting with him went really well, and his words were very motivating for us. It’s great to have met him. Today, we also met the President, and it felt great meeting her as well. When the Prime Minister speaks, I feel like I could just keep listening to him; I really enjoy his speeches – they’re always wonderful. He motivated us to keep moving forward and said that his blessings are with us. He told us that we are doing very well, which is a matter of great pride for the country, and that he hopes we continue to do great in the future too.

“He took time out of his valuable schedule for us, and we spoke with him for quite some time. He also talked about Lord Hanuman and already knew that I am a great devotee of Hanuman Ji. He knew about my Hanuman tattoo, and I told him that it gives me a lot of motivation. I told him that whenever I feel low, I remember Hanuman Ji and come out of that phase. He even knew that I write ‘Jai Shri Ram’ on Instagram – that was a big thing for me, that he follows and keeps track of everything. Hearing that made me feel really good. He also knew that paneer is my favourite food, and he mentioned that paneer is one of his favourite dishes too – that was also really nice to hear. Whether I feel high or low, I always keep chanting Hanuman Ji’s name – it gives me great motivation every time. Along with my family, He is my biggest strength; He gives me power and energy. Even Modi Ji believes in Hanuman Ji, and that’s why he has such positive vibes,” she added.

Deepti also noted an interesting moment from her meeting with the PM and said she was elated to be addressed as ‘DSP’ by the political stalwart.

“It felt wonderful when the first words he said were, ‘DSP, you tell us.’ I liked the way he addressed me like that.”

Deepti also mentioned that the PM urged members of the women’s team to support the less privileged sections of society and help talented girls pursue their dreams of playing the sport. She hoped that parents would support girls in their sporting pursuits and motivate them to perform well whenever they compete. The spin-bowling all-rounder believes that India’s World Cup victory will lead to a shift in people’s mindsets.

“He told us that wherever we go, we should support young girls – especially those from areas where they don’t have many opportunities to play – so that India’s name can shine in sports. It feels good when anyone supports players from any sport, whether it’s an individual or a team game. When we support each other, it creates a positive mindset – it feels like someone is standing behind us, watching and cheering for us. Of course, the whole world is watching, but when Modi Ji says, ‘You just keep playing, we are with you,’ it feels really good to hear that. I hope everyone watched the World Cup and learned a lot from it.

“I would like as many girls as possible to take up cricket and move forward in sports. I also want their families to support them – not to stop them from playing, but to encourage and motivate them. We too moved forward step by step, and by winning the World Cup final, we changed people’s mindsets. Everyone’s thinking has evolved – now even in families, parents are saying that they want their daughters to play, especially cricket. I truly believe that many individuals’ interest in the sport has grown – I’ve felt this change over the years. Definitely, there has been a positive shift, especially in the minds of parents,” she further added.

Source: https://sports.ndtv.com/women-s-odi-world-cup-2025/pm-narendra-modi-addresses-india-star-deepti-sharma-as-dsp-womens-world-cup-champion-reacts-9587899

Officials revealed that several individuals were listed two or even three times in the same electoral roll. The list of duplicate voters has been forwarded to respective tehsils for verification. Kaushambi currently has 10,46,695 registered voters.

The State Election Commission has uncovered major discrepancies in the Kaushambi voter list, identifying more than 1.64 lakh duplicate entries through artificial intelligence (AI) analysis. The move comes ahead of the upcoming three-tier panchayat elections.

Officials revealed that several individuals were listed two or even three times in the same electoral roll. The list of duplicate voters has been forwarded to respective tehsils for verification. Kaushambi currently has 10,46,695 registered voters.

District Magistrate Dr. Amit Pal Sharma stated that Sub-Divisional Magistrates (SDMs) have been instructed to conduct door-to-door verification through Booth Level Officers (BLOs). “Once verification is complete, only the genuine address of residence will remain on record, and all duplicate entries will be deleted,” he said.

The AI-assisted review is expected to make the voter list completely error-free before elections. BLOs have already started visiting homes to confirm voter identities and remove repeated names.

Source: https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/uttar-pradesh-news-over-164-lakh-duplicate-voter-entries-found-through-ai-analysis-in-kaushambi

Patanjali has been sued by Dabur over the advertisement published last month; the Court reserved its verdict on the interim injunction application.

The Delhi High Court on Thursday reserved its verdict on Dabur’s plea for an interim injunction against Patanjali Ayurveda’s new advertisement, which had allegedly termed all other chyawanprash brands “dhoka” (fraud or deception) [Dabur India Limited v Patanjali Ayurved Limited & Anr].

During the hearing today, Justice Tejas Karia questioned Patanjali about how they can refer to chyawanprash prepared by other companies as “dhoka”.

He remarked that while Patanjali can claim to be the best, it cannot say that others are fraud.

“Use the word inferior, what’s the problem? This is not the representation [from the advertisement]. You are saying everyone is dhoka, and I am genuine. How can you call all other chyawanprash dhoka? You can say inferior, but you can’t call them fraud… Is there no other word available in the dictionary which can be used other than dhoka,” the Court asked.

The Court said that dhoka is a negative word.

“Dhoka is a negative word, derogatory. You are saying they are fraud and people are eating fraud,” the Bench remarked.

Dabur India has sued Patanjali, accusing them of defamation, disparagement and unfair competition over a recent television commercial for Patanjali Special Chyawanprash.

According to the plaint, the ad features Baba Ramdev warning consumers that “most people are being duped in the name of Chyawanprash,” calling other brands “Dhoka” (fraud or deception). The ad promotes Patanjali’s product as the only “original” Chyawanprash offering the “true power of Ayurveda.”

Dabur has alleged that the commercial deliberately maligns its own flagship product, Dabur Chyawanprash, which has dominated the market since 1949 with over 61% market share, and misleads consumers into distrusting all other Chyawanprash makers.

The plaint states that such messaging constitutes “generic disparagement” of the entire Chyawanprash category, eroding consumer faith in Ayurveda-based health supplements.

The company further accuses Patanjali of making false claims that its Chyawanprash contains “51 Ayurvedic herbs and saffron,” despite a 2014 government advisory deeming the same claim misleading.

Further, it contends that the use of “Special” as a prefix to a classical Ayurvedic medicine violates Rule 157(1-B) of the Drugs Rules, which prohibits deceptive labelling of Ayurvedic formulations.

Senior Advocate Sandeep Sethi appeared for Dabur and stated that chyawanprash is a class of goods, and by referring to all other chyawanprash as dhoka, Patanjali was disparaging all of them.

“To call somebody dhoka is, per se, ex facie, disparaging. They may say ‘I don’t identify you’, but they paint everybody with the same brush… Coming from a self-proclaimed yoga guru, it is far more serious because people identify with a yoga guru with some sense of truthfulness,” Sethi said.

He added that Dabur is preparing its Chyawanprash as per the scriptures prescribed by the statute and if a product does that it cannot be called a dhoka.

“It is all being done to create panic. I have 100-year-old company. I have a 61% share. There have been 9 crore views [of the advertisement] in a matter of 5 days. This is how sensitive the people are,” he said.

Senior Advocate Rajiv Nayar appeared for Patanjali to defend the commercial. He stated that the Patanjali advertisement is a puffery and hyperbole, which is permissible under the law.

“We have to see the entire meaning that the advertisement is conveying. Right or wrong, it is hyperbole. I am saying all others are ineffective. I am trying to convey that ‘forget about other chyawanprash, consume only mine’. I am allowed to say that I am the best. I am saying all others are inferior in comparison to mine,” he said.

He added that Dabur was being hypersensitive.

“There is no reference to the plaintiff. Why is he so hypersensitive? Just because he is the market leader?” he asked.

Further, Nayar stated that Dabur had filed a suit against Patanjali’s previous advertisement as well and failed to get an injunction against calling them “inferior”.

Source: https://www.barandbench.com/news/how-can-you-call-everyone-else-dhoka-delhi-high-court-questions-patanjalis-new-chyawanprash-ad

A 30-year-old man was arrested in Faridabad for stalking and shooting a 17-year-old JEE aspirant after she refused to talk to him. The accused confessed he fired at her in a fit of rage, police said.

Faridabad Police on Wednesday arrested a 30-year-old man accused of stalking and shooting a 17-year-old JEE aspirant in broad daylight earlier this week.

The accused, identified as Jitendra alias Jatin Mangla, allegedly confessed during interrogation that he opened fire at the girl in a fit of rage after she refused to talk to him, police said.

According to officials, the victim, Kanishka, a Class 12 science student, was returning home from the library in Faridabad’s Shyam Colony on Monday evening when Mangla attacked her. CCTV footage showed the accused waiting for her in the street, approaching her, and shooting at her at point-blank range. One bullet struck her shoulder, while another grazed her abdomen.

The teenager, a resident of Bhagat Singh Colony, was immediately rushed to a hospital, where she remains under treatment. Her condition is stated to be stable.

Police said an FIR was registered at City Ballabgarh police station, and a team from the Crime Branch, Sector 65, arrested Mangla from Sarmathla village near Sohna in Gurugram.

Source: https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/faridabad-stalker-shoots-teen-arrested-confession-2814339-2025-11-06

Rishikant Shukla, Deputy Superintendent of Police, was suspended after an SIT investigation uncovered a Rs 100-crore illicit asset empire. The probe reveals deep-rooted corruption, intimidation, and collusion with a criminal syndicate in Kanpur.

In a stunning revelation that has rocked the Uttar Pradesh Police, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Rishikant Shukla has been suspended following an SIT investigation that unearthed assets worth nearly Rs 100 crore allegedly amassed through corruption, intimidation, and deep-rooted criminal collusion.

The probe has exposed how Shukla, once celebrated as an encounter specialist, allegedly used the fear of police encounters to extort property, silence victims, and build an illicit real estate empire across Kanpur.

THREATS, FALSE CASES, AND FEAR
According to testimonies collected by the SIT and multiple victims, Shukla systematically threatened builders, businessmen, and property owners by invoking his reputation as a dreaded encounter officer. Victims claim that he would trap people in false cases and force them to transfer their land or assets into his name – often at gunpoint.

One of the victims, Manohar Shukla (no relation), recounted how he lost land valued at Rs 60-70 crore. “We had purchased the land together,” Manohar said. “When the price rose, Rishikant offered Rs 7 crore for my share. I agreed because my wife was battling cancer. But when I went to collect the money, he pointed a pistol at me and said, ‘You won’t get any money.’ He took everything.”

Manohar claims there are many others too afraid to come forward, fearing the same fate.

COLLUSION AT THE CORE
The scandal deepens with Shukla’s alleged collusion with Kanpur-based lawyer and alleged criminal mastermind Akhilesh Dubey. According to police sources, Dubey ran a powerful syndicate with several officers, including Shukla, at its centre.

Dubey, leveraging his influence in the legal and police circles, would implicate people in fabricated criminal cases and then extort large sums in exchange for relief. Shukla, during his tenure as inspector in Kanpur, allegedly executed many of Dubey’s operations—filing false rape and land-grab cases to pressure targets into surrendering property or money.

Together, they settled numerous land disputes through intimidation, extortion, and fraud, amassing massive tracts of property across the city.

LAUNDERING THE LOOT
The SIT investigation has also revealed that Shukla funnelled his illicit earnings into Dubey’s construction company, using his wife, Prabha Shukla, as a front partner. The firm, according to officials, served as a money-laundering vehicle for ill-gotten wealth accumulated through years of extortion and manipulation.

Two other DSPs posted in Kanpur are also alleged to be partners in the same firm, which continued its business operations even after the officers were transferred to other districts.

“These officers invested crores of rupees in the construction company, using it to legitimise their black money,” an SIT officer said on condition of anonymity.

POLITICAL PATRONAGE AND THE SHIELD OF POWER

Despite mounting allegations over the years, no action was taken against Shukla until now – largely, sources say, due to his political connections and protection from powerful leaders.

This was evident earlier this year when Shukla hosted his son’s wedding at one of Kanpur’s most luxurious resorts. The guest list reportedly included senior police officials, MLAs, MPs, and local party leaders, underscoring the influence he wielded within both bureaucratic and political circles.

Source: https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/how-up-cop-rishikant-shukla-misused-his-power-to-build-a-hundred-crore-empire-2813706-2025-11-05

The never-before-seen footage shows two of animal kingdom’s most notorious disease carrying mammals getting horrifyingly close.

The first-ever evidence of rats hunting bats mid-flight has alarmed scientists, raising concerns about potential new pathways for disease transmission and new pandemics as two of the animal kingdom’s most notorious carriers get dangerously close.

The night-vision footage, recorded at the entrances of two major urban bat colonies in northern Germany, shows rats leaping to snatch flying bats out of the air and eating them, which is a behaviour never documented before.

The video, which has since gone viral, has sparked fresh discussion among researchers about the risk of pathogen spillover between species that already play key roles in spreading infectious diseases.

The video was also described in a study published in the journal Global Ecology and Conservation.

“To our knowledge, this type of rat behaviour has not previously been documented scientifically,” Florian Gloza-Rausch, a biologist at the Museum of Natural History in Berlin and the lead author of the report, told the UK’s Telegraph.

Bats are vectors for a wide range of deadly diseases from coronaviruses to rabies and Ebola and account for about a fifth of all mammal species on earth.

Rats live close to humans and are found on every continent except Antarctica.

What Does The Footage Show?
Researchers had rigged night vision cameras at the entrances to a cave near an open-air theatre in the town of Bad Segeberg and in a rocky outcrop in a public park in Lüneburg.

Researchers recorded brown rats hunting bats at least 30 times as they entered and exited the cave in the cave in Bad Segeberg. The rats were successful 13 times.

Scientists found the remains of over 50 bats, including some that had not yet been fully eaten.

The footage, which the UK’s Telegraph in its report likened to “opening sequence of a pandemic disaster film”, shows a rat balancing on its hind legs in the darkness. It appears to be alert to the presence of numerous bats flying around it.

When the right moment arises, it grabs a small bat and sinks its teeth into its prey and carries it to away to eat it.

Researchers also observed that the rats “were frequently observed patrolling the landing platform at the cave entrance”.

“They were standing upright on their hind legs, using their tails for balance and raising their forelegs to intercept flying bats. Individuals were documented capturing bats mid-air, killing them immediately with a bite and dragging them away,” the researchers pointed out.

The scientists highlighted that even though rats have relatively poor eyesight, the bats were killed at night and the rats possibly detected their prey sensing the air currents from the bats’ wings or by feeling for them with their whiskers.

Source: https://www.news18.com/viral/rats-hunting-flying-bats-in-rare-footage-sparks-fears-of-pandemics-new-disease-outbreaks-ws-kl-9683377.html

The use of AI for darshan is intended to deliver a seamless, hassle-free pilgrimage experience by optimising crowd flow.

The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD) Board, led by Chairman B R Naidu, is planning to launch an ambitious digital drive to eliminate long queues and reduce the average pilgrim darshan waiting time to just two hours using Artificial Intelligence (AI).

“There was some reluctance earlier to embrace AI technology. But we are keen to leverage technology to eliminate past discomforts and enhance transparency,” Naidu told NDTV in an exclusive interview.

The use of AI for darshan is intended to deliver a seamless, hassle-free pilgrimage experience by optimising crowd flow and drastically cutting down wait times, he explained.

Already, the recent reduction in ‘VIP Break Darshan’ timings has saved common devotees an average of two to 2.5 hours of waiting time, the TTD Chairman said.

Plans are also underway to upgrade the Alipiri toll gate queue, the entry point at the foothill, with advanced technology and scanners to increase entry speed.

To manage pilgrim flow, the TTD is considering building a new complex down the hill capable of accommodating approximately 25,000 devotees with food court facilities.

To curb online fraud and fake bookings, a dedicated Cyber Security Lab proposal is also being considered. The Chairman advised devotees to use only the official TTD website for services.

“There was one person who had created over 320 fake sites promising darshan,” Naidu said.

The Chairman also detailed several hardline policy decisions taken to protect the temple’s sacred environment and assets, including initiating actions to remove non-Hindu employees in line with legal provisions, a move he described as safeguarding the temple’s religious purity.

Naidu said TTD had successfully reclaimed 25 acres of sacred land around the seven hills, including plots previously allocated for the Alipiri Zoo Park and the proposed Mumtaz Hotel (an Oberoi Group property) by the previous administration.

Amendments to religious laws are also being sought to restrict commercial activities and promote only spiritual programs.

The TTD also intends to remove up to 1,500 illegal shops granted by the previous administration to restore the beauty and sanctity of the town.

Source: https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/tirupati-temple-plans-to-use-ai-to-slash-pilgrim-wait-times-to-2-hours-9582378